FEEDING DAIRY CATTLE 210 



succeed another during the entire season. There are many 

 advantages of soiling, such as increased food production from a 

 given area, providing three times that of pasturage ; less waste, 

 as the cattle are not constantly tramping and lying on the 

 forage; greater variety of food, as the succession of crops 

 provides many changes ; increased milk and butter production 

 when prices are high, as in the fall ; less discomfort of animals, 

 as they are fed in the cool stables; and less fencing required. 

 One great objection is the increased labor; such as preparing 

 the soil for the crops, seeding every few days, cutting the crop 

 of green material and hauling to stables, — the food being 

 green and heavy, — and the extra labor of carrying for the 

 cattle in the stable. 



Soiling crops vary widely in their composition and as a suc- 

 culent food for the milking cow. As a rule, they contain more 

 waste than silage. They are very palatable, readily digestible, 

 and stimulate the flow of milk. It is customary to feed some- 

 what larger quantities of soiling crops than of silage, 60 pounds 

 being considered a fair daily allowance for a 1000-pound cow. 

 In addition she must have her grain ra.tion, the same as when 

 silage is fed, and a small allowance of hay of good quality, 

 clover, or alfalfa when possible. Instead of choosing coarse 

 grains, such as bran, distillers' dried grains, and the like, it is 

 preferable to feed the more concentrated, such as middlings, 

 oil meal, corn meal, gluten meal, and the Uke. 



When soiling is practiced, the area required to the cow and 

 the rotation of crops are interesting problems. Both vary widely 

 in different sections of the country, but on the average one acre 

 should support two cows, when grain and some hay is fed in 

 connection, as suggested. While the crops to be used in rota- 

 tion vary as does the time of planting, yet the following examples 

 will serve as a basis to be varied according to conditions : — 



