FEEDING FOR MILK PRODUCTION 271 



lation of the animal, and the problem for the feeder is to first 

 get the animal in this condition, observe what she produces 

 at her maximum, then adjust the ration to the amount pro- 

 duced and maintain the milk flow at a high level as long 

 as possible. However, if she does decline in milk when 

 receiving a sufficient ration, it is useless to further increase 

 the feed and expect to restore the milk flow. On the con- 

 trary, if it is certain that the ration has been ample or 

 more, it is economy to reduce the ration in about the same 

 proportion. 



Some Suitable Rations. The following rations are sug- 

 gestions for the beginner rather than for the expert dairyman. 

 They supply the necessary material to produce milk economi- 

 cally. If the cow will not give a good flow of milk in the 

 early part of the milking period and when fed a liberal amount 

 of one of these rations, it indicates that she is not adapted by 

 nature to be used as a dairy cow and should be disposed of. 

 The amounts given are about right for the cow giving from 

 20 to 25 pounds of average milk per day. For heavy-milk- 

 ing cows these rations would have to be increased, especially 

 in the grain, and for light-milking cows the grain should be 

 decreased. In making up these rations it is designed that 

 the cow be given all the roughness she will eat, and a sufficient 

 amount of grain to furnish all the proper amount of digestible 

 material. It is not designed that these rations should be 

 sufficient or the best adapted for cows of unusual dairy ca- 

 pacity, and certainly not for cows that are being fed for 

 making records where a maximum production is desired. 



The figures given are per day. It is expected that the grain 

 ration will be mixed in quantities and the animals fed from 

 the mixture. 



