262 FEEDS AND FEEDING, ABRIDGED 



Appendix Table V. In districts where protein-rich feeds are the 

 cheapest, cows have been fed rations as narrow as 1:4 without 

 harm. 



Succulent and palatable feed. — Numerous trials have shown the 

 importance of providing succulent feed, either corn silage or roots, 

 for winter feeding to take the place of summer pasture. The value 

 of succulence is due in no small measure to its beneficial laxative 

 effect and to its palatability, which undoubtedly tends to stimulate 

 digestion. Not only should succulent feed be supplied, but the rest 

 of the ration for cows yielding a good flow of milk should be as 

 palatable as possible. Such roughages as timothy hay, straw, and 

 corn stover may be used in limited amount, but should not form the 

 chief roughage. Concentrates not relished when fed alone may be 

 mixed with well-liked feed. The concentrate allowance should be 

 composed of two or more feeds, for a mixture is relished better than 

 a single kind of grain or roughage. It is also well to feed at least 

 two kinds of roughage. 



Shelter and comfort. — In winter, the steer, gorged with feed and 

 every day adding to the heat-holding layer of fat just beneath the 

 skin, prefers the yard or open shed to the stable. The dairy cow 

 stands in strong contrast, her system being severely taxed thru the 

 annual drain of maternity and the daily loss of milk. The cow should 

 be comfortably housed in a well-lighted, well-ventilated stable, hav- 

 ing a temperature ranging from 40° to 50° F. in winter. To preserve 

 the health of the herd as well as for sanitary reasons, it is advisable 

 to have not less than 4 square feet of window glass for each animal. 

 It is well to disinfect the stable thoroly at least once a year, to check 

 any possible spread of disease. As the dairy cow is a sensitive, 

 nervous animal the wise dairyman will provide comfortable stalls or 

 swinging stanchions, and see that the cows are well bedded. 



Water. — Cows in milk require about 100 lbs., or 12.5 gallons, of 

 water per head daily, and heavy yielding cows even more. As cows 

 are creatures of habit, those of ordinary productive capacity will 

 have their needs supplied if once each day they can easily secure 

 all the water they can then drink. High-producing animals should 

 have water at least twice a day. The supply should be of good 

 quality and close by, so the cows will not be forced to travel far. 



Opinions differ as to the advisability of warming water for cows 

 in winter. Owing to the heavy rations cows in milk consume, there 

 is a large amount of heat produced in their bodies thru the energy 

 expended in the mastication, digestion, and assimilation of the feed. 

 When comfortably housed, probably little or no nutrients need be 

 burned in the body for warming the water drunk in winter, provided 



