268 DAIRY CATTLE AND MILK PRODUCTION 



It is possible to make a fairly good ration, using these feeds 

 for roughness ; but it is only possible to do so by feeding large 

 quantities of mill feeds that are rich in protein. The thing 

 for the farmer to do is to raise the feeds he requires on his 

 own farm, as far as possible; and it is possible in many 

 localities to produce practically all that is needed to make 

 a balanced ration. The place to begin in considering the 

 feeding of an animal always is with the roughness, since 

 the character of the roughness determines to a large extent 

 the kind of grain it is advisable to feed. 



The cheapest source of protein usually is leguminous hays, 

 including clover, alfalfa, and cowpea hay. If an abundance 

 of any one of these hays can be grown, the problem of making 

 an economical balanced ration is very much simplified. Corn 

 is a staple crop in most parts of this country where many 

 dairy cows are kept. Corn silage, a legume hay, and corn 

 for grain make a ration that can be grown in most localities. 

 These alone make a satisfactory ration for ordinary pro- 

 ducing cows. The addition of a small quantity of a con- 

 centrate rich in protein, like bran or cottonseed meal, makes 

 a ration adapted to heavier producers of milk. 



Succulent Feeds. Another reason why cows do well on 

 good pasture is the character of the ration given. Green 

 feeds have that property called succulence. Such feed has 

 a value outside of the actual nutrients it contains, on account 

 of the favorable effect upon the digestion of the animal. 

 In the corn belt corn silage furnishes the best means of supply- 

 ing this class of food. In some sections, especially north 

 of the corn belt, the growing of root crops is widely practiced, 

 and supplies this desirable addition to the ration in an en- 

 tirely satisfactory form. 



