FOOD FOR MILCn COWS IN WINTER 277 



cost of labor. The plan, however, is assuredly to be 

 commended when a threatened shortage of food supplies 

 exists. 



Most suitable winter rations. — The most suitable 

 rations for cows in winter in the various states or groups 

 of states are chiefly determined, as may be expected, from 

 the production of the same. Rations that have stood 

 high in favor for such a use in various groups of states 

 will now be submitted. For the amounts to feed where 

 these are not specified see page 273. Where the 

 amounts are specified they are intended for cows that 

 weigh 1,000 pounds. 



In the New England states and also in the maritime 

 provinces of Canada, corn ensilage should be used as the 

 basic roughage, and fed at the rate of 30 to 40 pounds 

 daily. In addition, the cows are given all the hay they will 

 consume, whether fed as mixed hay, clover, or rowen. 

 The concentrate fed, of which a chief proportion is 

 usually purchased, is corn meal, wheat bran, and cotton- 

 seed meal or gluten meal, fed in the proportion of 2, i, 

 and I parts by weight. Relatively large amounts of 

 meal are fed because of the high market value of the 

 roughage. 



In the states of New York, Pennsylvania, Ohio, 

 Michigan, Wisconsin, and Minnesota, and also in the 

 Canadian provinces of Ontario and Quebec, the follow- 

 ing is a favorite ration for cows in milk : Good corn 

 silage fed at the rate of 30 to 40 pounds daily and all 

 the good clover hay that the cow will consume. As 

 concentrate she is given a mixture of corn meal, wheat 

 bran, and cottonseed meal in the proportions of 2, i, 

 and I parts by weight. In some instances, wheat bran 

 only is fed with the corn meal, and in others equal parts 

 of wheat bran and ground oats. As the leguminous 

 hay may be freely and safely grown in all these states, 

 the quantity fed should be moderate, never exceeding 

 10 pounds daily, and usually from 5 to 7 pounds will be 



