6 BULLETIN 1024, TJ. S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 



wheat crop a mixed hay of approximately one-half timothy and 

 one-half clover. In making soy-bean hay the ground is prepared 

 about as it would be for corn. The beans are drilled broadcast, using 

 \\ bushels an acre. They are usually sown the last of May or the 

 first of June, after all danger of heavy frost is past. AVhen the 

 beans begin to form in the pods, about the first of September, the 

 time varying with the variety of beans and the kind of season, the 

 crop is cut and cured for hay. 



KIND OF PASTURE. 



Each year the cows and their calves were turned on a pasture of 

 about 120 acres. 



The soil is of limestone formation and a good growth of bluegrass 

 with much white clover is found on all parts of the pasture, which 

 is typical of this section. Under normal climatic conditions there is 

 rainfall enough to keep the grass growing throughout the season. 



METHOD OF FEEDING AND HANDLING. 



In the fall, before being started on the winter feed, the cows were 

 divided into lots of 10 each. In this division care was taken to have 

 the lots as uniform as possible in quality, breeding, size, and con- 

 dition. These different lots were allowed the same amount of space 

 in open sheds with small outside lots about 25 by 50 feet in size. 

 Water was supplied in these lots at all times and salt was constantly 

 available. The cows were fed twice a day. 



The feed, both concentrates and roughages, was weighed at each 

 feeding and accurate records kept of the quantities fed. The cows 

 were weighed individually at the beginning, and at the end of the 

 winter feeding period, the weights being taken 3 days in succession 

 and the averages taken as their initial and final weights. They were 

 also weighed once every 28 days. The weights were taken in the 

 morning after feeding. For identification, neck straps with numbers 

 on them were used. 



After the cows were turned on grass in the spring it was necessary 

 in some instances where the cows gave a heavy flow of milk to give 

 the calves only a part of the milk until they were old enough to take 

 it all. 



I. RATIONS, GAINS AND LOSSES IN WEIGHT, AND CALVES 



PRODUCED. 



FEED CONSUMED. 



These cows received only enough feed to keep them in good, strong, 

 thrift} 7 condition. As the graph in figure 7 shows, they gained in 

 weight until they calved. 



