FEEDING DAIRY CATTLE 127 



kepi off the pasture until the grass is well started. Grass 

 can only grow by having leaves above the ground in contact 

 with the air and sunshine. If the cattle are turned out to 

 graze while the grass is very short, its growth is slow since 

 it h;is no chance to get enough leaves to prepare its food. 



118. Feeding Grain while on Pasture. The cow that 

 produces a small quantity will give but little if any more if 

 fed i^rain while on pasture. However, with the very heavy- 

 producing cow the case is quite different, and it is necessary 

 that she be fed some grain or she will not continue long on 

 the high level of milk production. The high-producing cow 

 cannot eat and digest a sufficient amount of grass to supply 

 the necessary nutrients and must have some concentrated 

 feed in order to continue to produce large quantities of milk. 



Experiments made by the Cornell University Experiment 

 Station covering four years showed that while an increase 

 of milk yield was obtained from grain feeding it was not 

 economical to produce it in this way. Only about one addi- 

 tional pound of milk was obtained for each pound of grain 

 fed. In these experiments the pasture furnished an abun- 

 dance of grasses. It was observed, however, that the cows 

 that had grain during the summer gave better results after 

 the grazing season was over than those that received no grain. 

 This is also a matter of common observation by dairymen and 

 should be taken into account in considering the question of 

 summer feeding. The practice of the writer in regard to grain 

 feeding on pasture is represented in the following statement : 



Jersey or Guernsey cow, producing : 



20 pounds milk daily 2 pounds grain daily 



25 pounds milk daily 3 pounds grain daily 



30 pounds milk daily 6 pounds grain daily 



35 pounds milk daily 8 pounds grain daily 



