SUCCULENCE 227 



great as B C. Cow No. 2 has not received three times as much 

 feed by any means, but the surplus remaining for milk forma- 

 tion after maintenance has been subtracted, is three times as 

 great. It is evident, therefore, that the first portion of the feed 

 given to a cow is essentially wasted unless an additional amount 

 is given from which milk may be formed. Cows do not create 

 the substance of milk, they merely change its form from that of 

 grass, hay and grain to that of milk sugar, milk fat, casein, 

 albumen and ash. The Scotch have a saying, " Give to a steer 

 a gallon of meal and it is a gallon wasted, give him two and he 

 will pay for three." There is truth in it. 



Palatability. — Mere abundance, however, is not all the animal 

 needs by any means. A cow might be tied to a straw stack and 

 starve to death. In addition, the feed must be palatable in order 

 to be consumed in sufficient quantities and be most valuable. 

 Feed eaten with repugnance might often better have remained 

 uneaten so far as any good to the animal is concerned. 



Fresh grass is about the most palatable feed to cattle and 

 large quantities are eaten while it is tender. Winter hay may 

 often be made more valuable by sprinkling it with salty water 

 or molasses water to make it more palatable. 



Succulence is unquestionably one of the qualities of early 

 summer grass which materially assists the cow in heavy pro- 

 duction. This qua,lity in the winter's feed may be provided 

 in ample measure in the form of com silage or, when such is 

 not available, in the form of mangles, ruta-bagas, or other 

 roots, or potatoes. The succulent quality in feed is of value in 

 several ways. The cow is induced thereby to consume a larger 

 amount and that which she does consume is more easily mas- 

 ticated and more easily and economically digested, thus more 

 valuable per unit of feed material present. If to the succulent 

 quality there can be retained or added the flavors particularly 

 relished by cows, such for instance as well made corn silage, 

 the digestion of these feeds is facilitated by the fact. Over 

 ripe hay and dry com stover are so hard that their net value to 

 the animal is only a half or less of the apparent value as in- 

 dicated by a table of digestible nutrients. 



