138 LIVESTOCK ON THE FARM 



trates should make up from one-tenth to one-fifth of the con- 

 centrate part of the ration. 



"Water. — One hundred pounds of milli contains about 87 

 pounds of water. Besides the water needed to supply this, 

 the cow needs an additional supply to aid digestion, circula- 

 tion, perspiration and heat regulation. It has been shown by 

 investigation that for every pound of milk a cow gives she 

 needs 3 or 4 pounds of water. The cow giving 100 pounds 

 of milk per day then requires about 400 pounds or 1 barrel 

 of water each day. Suppose then, that on account of cold 

 weather, cold water or inaccessibility to water this much is 

 not obtained. What is going to happen? Well, the machine 

 must be operated first. And then if there is any water left 

 milk can be made. And no milk can be made without water. 

 Milk is always of a definite composition. If the amount of 

 water consumed is reduced by one-third, the amount of milk 

 may be reduced by two-thirds. 



The importance of an abundant and constant supply of 

 water is, therefore, well recognized. Furthermore, there is no 

 way for the cow to store much water in her body for future use. 

 Consequently, she must have water regularly and constantly. 



In a cold country, it is advisable to warm the water for the 

 cows, but if well water is used fresh before it gets too cold and 

 is given to cows in a warm barn there may be no necessity for 

 warming it. The frequency of watering also is of considerable 

 importance. The oftener a cow drinks the colder may be 

 the water. Under ordinary conditions there is always some 

 surplus heat in the body. If a little water is taken at a time 

 this heat can be used to raise the temperature of the water to 

 that of the cow. But if a large quantity of cold water is taken 

 in at one time it will require a great deal of heat to warm it 

 and this will require more heat than the cow has available so 

 she will be obliged to make heat to warm the water. And 

 while she is doing this she cannot be making milk. A large 

 quantity of cold water may also chill a cow to such an extent 

 to injure her otherwise. 



See to it, then, that the cow gets plenty of water, that this is 

 taken frequently (two or three times a day at least), and that 

 the water is not too cold. 



