Feeding Dairy Cattle 



try to sell her or her calf when she has no record at all. If 

 she is registered she is entitled to a record. And any farmer 

 with any knowledge of feeding at all can at least cause his 

 animals to make requirements. Many times he will be sur- 

 prised with the results. 



So begin, and begin now. With a beginning will come 

 experience and interest. Then will come the great desire 

 to have the best that is going and with those, with common 

 sense, this means the beginning of real success in the dairy 

 farming business. 



Before beginning the actual feeding suggestions, the 

 writer wishes to quote a little from a bulletin written by 

 Professor T. L. Haecker, of Minnesota. In the handling of 

 highly bred animals, and particularly of those we expect to 

 test, kindness and even pampering will bring in good returns. 

 Professor Haecker says this very well and we take the lib- 

 erty to quote him : 



"We know of many instances where the best of dairv 

 cows were kept, and where good methods of feeding were 

 practical and still results fell far short of what might 

 reasonably be expected, simply because the animals did not 

 receive that kindly treatment which is so essentia] t' > a cow 

 giving much milk over a long period. The herd as a whole 

 should always be moved slowly. Never hurrv a cow or 

 strike her or speak loudly or harshly. A gentle voice and 

 a caressing touch are quite as potent as is digestible pn nein. 

 If you so handle the cows that they are fond of vou, you 

 have learned one of the most important lessons that lead' to 

 profitable dairying. The most successful milk-producers 

 are always in close touch with every cow in the herd. The 

 milk-producer has to do with motherhood, in which affec- 

 tion always plays an important part. A cow's affection for 

 the calf prompts the desire to give it milk; if you gain her 

 affection she will desire to give you milk. If you have not 

 been in the habit of caressing the cows, the time to inaugu- 

 rate the practice is when they approach the time of calving, 

 as it is at that particular time when thev take kindlv to 

 grooming and to gentle rubbing of the udder." 



In taking up suggestions for the feeding and management 

 of animals that are tested we will take the heifers fir^t. The 

 preparation of a heifer for testing must begin when slie is 

 born. She must be grown well from the start. Much has 

 been said about getting young stock too fat and thu- de-trov- 

 ing their dairy qualities and inducing them to lav on fat after 

 calving rather than to turn all the feed into milk and butterfat. 



Page Fifty-tour 



