12 BULLETIN 615, U. S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 



They were turned on stalks on November 15. Winter feeding began 

 a few days later and lasted until May 1, when the cows were again 

 turned on pasture. During the 165-day interval each cow received 

 the following: 



Stalks ll acres, at $1 am acre. 



Fodder f acre, at $35 an acre. 



Mixed hay f ton. at $10 a ton. 



• Corn 2 bushels, at $0.65 a bushel. 



As the average yield of corn on this farm was 50 bushels to the 

 acre, and as the best corn was cut for fodder, the cows, considering 

 the corn in the fodder and the additional grain fed, received a total 

 of 22 bushels per head. This is almost a fattening ration. If the 

 corn had been husked from the fodder and only the stover fed, there 

 would have been sufficient roughage for the cows. Estimating that 

 three- fourths of a ton of stover was eaten per acre of stalks and that 

 the stover from the fodder fed would go 2 tons to the acre, and 

 allowing the cows 3 bushels of corn each during the winter instead of 

 22, they would receive the following daily ration : 



Stover 20. 6 pounds. 



Mixed hay 9. pounds. 



Corn 1. pound. 



This ration would be sufficient for their needs. 



By merely eliminating the excessive amount of corn (19 bushels) 

 from the ration a saving of $11.40 could have been made and the 

 feed bill reduced very nearly one-half, or from $24 to $12.60 per cow. 

 The calves, which actually ' cost $43 at weaning time, would then 

 have cost only $30, 



FARM NO. 2. 



The second farm is in the west-central part of Iowa. It contains 

 225 acres, valued at $175 an acre. There were 80 acres in pasture, 

 65 in corn (10 of which were for silage), 30 in oats, and 30 in 

 timothy hay. The breeding herd consisted of a good bull and 20 

 high-grade cows, from which 20 calves were raised. The cows were 

 turned on stalk fields on November 15 and allowed the run of the 

 fields during the winter. Beginning December 1 they were fed 

 silage, timothy hay, and oat straw. The ration per cow as reported 

 was as follows: 



Stalks 1.8 acres, at $0.75 an acre. 



Silage 3.5 tons, at $4 a ton. 



Timothy hay 1 ton, at $12 a ton. 



Oat straw 0. 75 ton, at $2 a ton. 



This ration contained much more feed than the cows could utilize 

 and probably most of the straw was wasted. It could have been 



