BREEDING BEEF CATTLE 171 



four pounds of clover hay, and all the straw the cows 

 will take will winter them satisfactorily, but not as well 

 as the silage ration to which we have referred. 



Beef breeding cows may be wintered on corn stover 

 and straw, supplemented with a limited amount (two 

 •pounds per day per thousand pounds live weight) of 

 clover hay. This ration contains no grain, and, while 

 cows may be maintained on it at less cost than the pre- 

 vious rations, it will not prove economical for a series of 

 years, because the thrift of the animals is not well main- 

 tained nor their milk flow sustained. A small amount 

 of grain in the ration is a matter of very great impor- 

 tance. Wintering in stalk field with access to oat straw 

 and open shed shelter is a suitable method of wintering, 

 provided there is sufficient supply of grain in the field 

 or added to the ration. 



