CARE AND MANAGEMENT OF THE DAIRY HERD. 79 



feeding, a very good rule to follow in grain feeding is to allow one pound 

 of grain for every three pounds of milk produced daily or one pound 

 of grain for each pound of butterfat produced weekly. For example, 

 a cow producing four gallons of milk per day or ten pounds of fat per 

 week should be given ten pounds of hay, thirty-five pounds of corn 

 silage and ten pounds of grain. In making up the grain ration it is 

 desirable to use a combination of three or four grains mixed in right 

 proportion so as to balance up the ration to meet the requirements. 

 Variety is also secured by using three or four different feeds, which is 

 quite a consideration in holding cows on feed for a continuous period. 

 Some good dairy rations are outlined below, the amounts to be 

 supplied daily in two feeds : 



1. Corn silage, 35 pounds ; clover hay, 10 pounds ; grain mixture, 

 made up of distillery grains three parts, cottonseed meal two parts, 

 wheat bran one part. 



2. Clover hay, 20 pounds; grain mixture: wheat 'bran one part, corn 

 meal two parts, oats one part, and cottonseed meal one part. 



3. Peavine hay, 10 pounds ; corn stover, 12 pounds ; grain mixture : 

 gluten feed two parts, wheat bran one part, and oats one part. 



4. Corn silage, 25 pounds; peavine hay, 14 pounds; grain mixture: 

 cottonseed meal two parts, corn meal two parts, wheat bran two parts. 



5. Peavine hay, 15 pounds; dried beet pulp, 4 pounds (before moisten- 

 ing) ; grain mixture : cottonseed meal two parts, brewers' grains three 

 parts, wheat bran one part. 



It will be noticed that only clover and peavine hay were considered in 

 the rations mentioned. Hay from the grasses can be used in feeding 

 dairy cows, but it is not as desirable as good leguminous hay. The 

 grasses do not carry the high per cent of protein that the legumes do 

 and that is so essential for dairy cows. Corn silage is such a common 

 dairy feed, it was included in a number of the rations. It is one of the 

 best feeds that the dairyman can provide for his cows and enough 

 should be put up to supplement short pastures as well as for winter 

 feeding. Five to six tons provided for each cow will carry the herd 

 through the greater portion of the year. If it is not possible to pasture 

 it is very desirable to provide some green feed such. as green rye, wheat, 

 oats, and peas or corn. The fall sown crops like rye and wheat will 

 furnish feed by the first of May. As a rule the wheat will be ready 

 after the rye is gone. Canada field peas and oats sown on good soil 

 in late February will make feed by the latter part of May, and by sow- 

 ing at different periods green feed can be had for a considerable period 

 in the spring. The clovers are often ready for feeding in May, and 

 they make the best kind of green feed for dairy cows. As all growing 

 plants carry a high per cent of water it is desirable to allow them to 

 stand until they develop well so as to secure as much nutrition as pos- 

 sible, rather than feed them when immature when they carry a high 

 per cent of water and are low in nutrients. 



Corn Silage. It is especially important to understand the develop- 

 ment of the nutrients in the corn plant when putting up silage. In 

 the past many people have made the mistake of cutting the corn too 



