470 Feeds and Feeding. 



into slop before feeding. By supplying the feed dry the mangers 

 can be kept more wholesome with less labor in administering it. 



708. Liberal feeding. — The dairyman should never forget that 

 about sixty per cent, of all the cow can eat is required to sustain 

 her body, and only after this amount is provided can there be 

 any returns to him. (834) Having incurred the expense neces- 

 sary to operate a dairy, in the purchase of lands, buildings and 

 cows, he is certainly shortsighted who will withhold any part of 

 the forty per cent, of provender which will produce returns for 

 himself. When the dairyman has reached the point of liberal 

 feeding, he should begin to study the individual needs of the 

 members. Since some cows can profitably utilize more feed than 

 others the distribution of concentrates should proceed with dis- 

 crimination, some animals being fed more and others less than 

 the average of the herd. 



709. Confinement during heated periods. — Whether or not the 

 dairyman practice soiling, there are periods in summer when 

 cows should be in the stable during the day and turned to past- 

 ure at night. During heated periods, when flies are troublesome, 

 cows fall off greatly in their milk, this shrinkage measuring in 

 some degree their suffering. At such times it is best to place 

 them in darkened stables and supply green forage supplemented 

 with meal. For exercise turn them out at night in yard or 

 pasture. Knowing how difficult it is to bring cows back to their 

 normal flow after these periods of shrinkage, the wise dairyman 

 will not be unwilling to provide for their comfort at such times. 



710. Water. — That the cow requires a liberal supply of water 

 goes without saying; for not only must the wants of the body be 

 met, but a considerable quantity is drained off with the milk 

 twice daily. (73) Being creatures of habit, cows can subsist 

 when supplied water once each day, but an opportunity to reach 

 the trough morning and evening is preferable. It is becoming 

 quite common to supply water to cows individually in small 

 troughs or vessels placed in front of them in the stable. If this 

 supply can be kept vi^holesome the practice is satisfactory; but 

 close inspection will show that in many cases, perhaps a majority 

 these individual watering devices are traps for filth and foul-smell- 



