72 THE CREAMERY PATRON'S HANDBOOK. 



giving 20 pounds of milk daily. For a daily yield of 30 pounds of milk 

 12 pounds of meal would be required. 



Cows giving a large yield of milk should always be provided with roots 

 of some kind, or silage, since it aids digestion and keeps them in good phy- 

 sical tone. Fresh cows should always receive a liberal supply of protein 

 to afford them an opportunity to increase in the flow of milk. When 

 more protein is fed than is actually needed, it may stimulate the lacteal 

 functions to a larger flow at each successive lactation, so while no direct 

 benefit may be noticed during the first lactation, beneficial results may 

 become manifest in succeeding lactations. The young cow also needs a 

 surplus of protein with which to mature the body and give nourishment 

 to the calf she carries. So in compounding a ration, due consideration 

 should be given to these requirements. 



It is not considered necessary to formulate a large number of rations, 

 for the aim of this portion of the manual is simply to show how much nutri- 

 ment is required for milk production, in what proportion nutrients should 

 be combined, how to make the proper balance between concentrates and 

 roughage for the work a cow is doing, and how to feed and care for the cow 

 to secure the maximum yield at a minimum cost. 



In our first example, which was given to show the methods of calcu- 

 lating rations, we incidentally found that with clover hay as a roughage it 

 was not necessary to resort to mill products containing a high per cent, 

 of protein to maintain the proper balance between protein and carbohy- 

 drates. 



As an illustration of this, a ration will be made with alfalfa hay and 



farm grains. ( Digestible-, 



Food. Lbs. Pro. C.-H. Fat 



Alfalfa 10 1.10 3 . 96 .12 



Stover 10 .17 3.24 .07 



Corn 4 .32 2.67 .17 



Barley 4 .35 2.62 .06 



1.94 12.49 .42 



In the ration preceding this it required 8 pounds of the mixed meal 

 for a daily yield of 20 pounds of milk and in this ration with 8 pounds of 

 corn and barley sufficient nutrients are found for a cow giving 25 pounds 

 of milk daily. If wheat is fed in place of corn and barley the ration will 

 contain 2.11 pounds of protein and 12.73 pounds of carbohydrates, being 

 almost an ideal ration so far as composition is concerned ; but only one kind 

 of grain in a ration is not relished as well as when a variety is fed. There 

 are many localities in our country where corn does not do well but where 

 barley is a good crop. In such localities a ration composed of alfalfa and 

 ground barley will be found quite satisfactory. A little bran and shorts 

 might be added if available. 



Farmers in northern latitudes are beginning to learn that by raising 

 more protein, feed bills are reduced. In localities where there is much 



