96 THE MANAGEMENT AND DEEDING OF CATTLE 



readily furnish such succulence. In relati^'e suitability 

 they rank in the order given. 



While it is important that the supply of food shall 

 be liberal for all pregnant animals, it is especially im- 

 portant that it shall be so with those of uncompleted 

 growth, because of the double duty put upon them. It 

 is greatly important that all dams shall be in a good 

 condition of flesh when their young are born, because 

 of the drain which follows during the period of lacta- 

 tion. Milk-giving, especially when abundant, acts as a 

 drain upon the system to the extent of drawing upon 

 certain of the elements of the body itself. This ex- 

 plains why free milk producers almost invariably lose 

 flesh during the period of abundant milk-giving. When 

 no reserve, as it were, of this is stored in the system 

 before the young are brought forth, the ability of the 

 dam to milk abundantly is lessened, and, in the case of 

 heifers, the same standard of completed development is 

 not attained such as would otherwise result. To under- 

 feed cows when pregnant would result in future loss, but 

 to deal thus with heifers would result in double loss. 

 Of course excessive fatness would bring its hazards both 

 to the present development of the young in embryo and 

 to the dam and her progeny at parturition. Such excess 

 in fatness, however, seldom occurs, and never in the case 

 of animals that have been properly fed. 



In summer no food is more suitable for pregnant 

 heifers than succulent grass. If, for any reason, they 

 should be deprived of pasture, as under certain condi- 

 tions of soiling, of course they should be given the 

 equivalent of pasture in green food. Usually no addi- 

 tional food is necessary, either as grain or supplementary 

 fodder, when the grass is abundant. In winter when the 

 heifers have clover hay, as fodders or alfalfa good in 

 quality and enough in supply, they may require no other 

 food than a moderate amount, say, 10 to 20 pounds of 

 field roots or corn ensilage dailv. In the absence of 



