FOOD FOR MILCH COWS IN WINTER 261 



but, in certain areas, they may be grown in seasons when 

 the clovers may have failed and in localities where they 

 may not be grown. 



Certain grain fodders have been made to furnish 

 excellent hay with which to supplement hay from grass 

 and clover. Prominent among these are oats alone, oats 

 and peas, and in the South winter oats and vetches. 

 These are so grown that usually they may be harvested 

 with the grain, and they are cut just a little short of 

 maturity. When the legume is prominently present in 

 such hay it greatly improves it as a fodder for milk 

 production. 



Fodder furnished by corn or sorghum may usually 

 be furnished more cheaply than other fodders. When 

 grown so that the stalks are fine and leafy, and when 

 cut just when nearing completed maturity and well 

 cured, such fodder is excellent for milk production when 

 fed with suitable concentrates. If the corn fodder has 

 nubbins, its value in proportion to the bulk is improved, 

 but even when grown so thickly as to preclude the 

 development of nubbins, such fodder will be found 

 excellent for milk production when well cured. The aim 

 should be to feed the sorghums in the autumn and early 

 winter, and the corn so that it may be supplemented by 

 other hay when the winter is past, as later than the time 

 specified, in each instance, for feeding these foods, they 

 deteriorate. The value of corn fodder finely grown 

 as a milk producer has probably been underrated by 

 many who have discussed this question and who have 

 based their opinions mainly on the chemical analysis 

 of such fodders. 



The value of hay made from the grasses proper in 

 producing milk is much dependent on the fineness of 

 growth in the variety, on prompt and careful harvest- 

 ing at early maturity, and on the avoidance of excessive 

 curing. Timothy hay, for instance, cut at early ripen- 

 ing and cured so as to preserve the green color makes 



