TYPICAL RATIONS FOR DAIRY COWS. 69 



at Urbana offers the appended general com- 

 ments on the subject of feeding dairy cows : 



"We send you a few rations, with the attempt to 

 suit them to farmers who have neither silos nor al- 

 falfa, but pointing out the great economy of these 

 two feeds when fed together. We find them the most 

 economical producers of milk. It is true that there 

 are great evils resulting when one attempts to use 

 either alone. 



The subject of feed for the dairy cow is one about 

 which we have much to learn. One should use all the 

 home-grown feeds possible, yet such feeds are often 

 expensive because one can sell them and buy mill 

 feeds at a profit. It seldom, or never, pays to feed a 

 pound of oats. On the other hand, one acre^of^SP 

 f^^J.Eroduces more protein food than three acres 

 oi(^ra~§r six acres of oats, or two acres of clover. 

 The corn plant produces more starch and sugar than 

 any other plant. Thesigjaga sho uld form the bulk of 

 t he ration for dairy cows. What to add depends 

 jippn conditions. If one is compelled to buy, he will 

 do far better to "secure a mixture than to decide on 

 the best feed and depend upon that alone. 



Some of these fundamental facts in the feeding of 

 dairy cows may be thus summarized: 



1. Alfalfa land furnishes the cheapest protein 

 food for cows known. 



2. Oorn, especially when labor is cheaper than at 

 present so the silo can be used more generally, is the 

 best fat producing feed for dairy cows. 



3. Use these two as home-grown feeds. 



4. A single feed, like, com meal, produces small 

 yields, and has evil effects upon the cow. 



5. The same is true of any single feed, such as 

 oil meal, gluten feed or silage. 



