Feeding Dairy Cattle 



The carbohydrates of the feed are used for the manu- 

 facture of the milk sugar. The solids of the milk are about 

 one-third sugar. This may be made from the carbohydrates 

 of the feed or from the fat in the feed or from the protein, 

 '\\'hen there is m(ire protein or fat than is needed for other pur- 

 poses. Then the carbohydrates are used directly as a source 

 of energy, either for direct consumption or stored as fat to be 

 drawn upon later for energy purposes. Body fat in the young 

 foetus or in the mother, is made in large part from the car- 

 bohydrates. In this sense the carbohydrates are as essential 

 and as important as the protein, except in so far as the pro- 

 tein of the feed has special uses, and because of its nitrogen 

 has a high manurial value. A pound of protein and a pound 

 of carbohydrates have the same feeding value from the 

 standpoint of energy. 



The fat of the feed may be used to form body fat or milk 

 fat or may be burned at once to yield energy. One pound 

 of fat in the feed has two and one-fourth times as much 

 energy as a pound of carbohydrates or protein. Therefore, 

 fat is said to be two and one-fourth times as valuable as car- 

 bohydrates or protein. The fat has no special functions 

 except as above outlined. A high amount of fat in a feed 

 would not make a higher percentage of fat in the milk. 



The amount of ash or mineral in the feed of cows has 

 probably not received the attention that it should. This ques- 

 tion is being carefully and thoroughly studied at the present 

 time. Results of these studies will have an important bear- 

 ing on long distance feeding. The question seems to center 

 around the supply of lime and phosphorous. A large variety 

 in the ration and legume roughage will help to solve this 

 question. 



FEEDING PRACTICE 



Between lactations the cows on these long tests will go 

 dry eight to ten weeks. A good grain mixture to be fed at 

 this time with alfalfa hay and silage and perhaps a few roots, 

 is 30 pounds hominy feed, 30 pounds ground oats, 30 pounds 

 wheat bran and 10 pounds of oil meal. Feed liberally of this 

 mixture and get the cow to fatten somewhat. If she is only 

 dry for eight or ten weeks you cannot get her too fat. 



Keep her on a rather light ration, using this same mixture 

 for three or four days after calving, when she may be put on 

 the test mixture and her allowance raised to the limit of her 

 appetite. Whenever she shows signs of going off feed she 

 may be fed a meal or two of the same mixture that has been 

 suggested for her when dry. 



Page Eighty-four 



