238 WINTER FEEDING OF DAIRY COWS 



In this ration the addition of clover has nearly balanced it. 

 It is, however, ^4 pound short in protein, and V2 pound over 

 in carbohydrates. 



In the past, wheat bran has been fed largely for milk pro- 

 duction, but while a little is good for the stock more nutriment 

 can usually be obtained for the money by purchasing, instead, 

 some of the grains richer in protein and more digestible. Sup- 

 pose we try: 



Lbs. Protein Carbohydrates Fat 



Clover hay 12 .852 4.54 .216 



Corn silage 36 .345 5.15 .252 



Corn 4 .316 2.67 .172 



Oats 4 .428 2.01 .152 



Linseed oil meal 1 .302 .32 .069 



Nutrients provided 2.243 14.69 .861 



Nutrients required 2.245 14.55 .67 



It will be noted that the simple replacement of 1 pound 

 corn with 1 of linseed meal brought the protein up in amount 

 to the point of requirement and that no more total feed was 

 given by the change. This last ration would be a very good one 

 indeed for a 1150-pound cow yielding 26 pounds of milk testing 

 4.2 per cent fat, daily, and has the advantage over the other 

 balanced ration, both in physiological effect on the cow and of 

 having been produced more largely on the farm, a less amount 

 having been purchased. 



Combinations almost without number might be made, but 

 the foregoing will sufficiently illustrate the necessity and the 

 method of ration balancing. 



It is not necessary nor advisable that each grain be weighed 

 out separately for each. cow. Such would entail altogether too 

 much work and too much disturbance of the cows as Avell. It is 

 not even necessary to make up a separate mixture for each cow. 



A good mixture made of three or more grains may be made 

 up to serve as a complement to the hay fed, and from this grain 

 all the cows in any herd may be fed very accurately by increas- 

 ing or decreasing the amount of grain and hay given. 



