CROPPING AND FEEDING SYSTEMS 



839 



compared with purchasing. The cost of production may be relatively 

 low, because the manure from the dairy is an important factor in the crop 

 yields, and because labor will be available for a certain amount of field work 

 and still fully meet the needs of the dairy. Corn as ensilage will prove an 

 important crop wherever it can be successfully grown. Hay for supplemen- 

 tary roughage, and oats or wheat for the sake of the straw, will frequently 

 be found advantageous. 



Careful investigations of the success of dairymen show that a combina- 



A Feed Lot Rack for Both Grain and Roughage. 1 



tion of dairy products and cash crops are generally more successful than 

 dairying alone. 



Corn, wheat, clover or clover and timothy mixed is a very common 

 rotation. Where wheat does poorly, oats generally succeed and may 

 supplant the wheat. In other districts both oats and wheat are advanta- 

 geously grown. Alfalfa in limited acreage is generally advisable. It 

 affords a most excellent crop, both for hay and soiling purposes. 



Feeding Systems. — The feeding system for any particular farm should 

 be based on the class of animals, their age and the chief purpose for which 

 grown. The feeding system for the rearing of young stock is quite different 

 than for dairy cows or stock that is being fattened. Many farmers find it 

 advantageous to raise young stock and sell it for feeding purposes, while 

 others are better equipped to purchase feeding stock and fatten it for 



1 Courtesy of The Pennsylvania Farmer, 



