210 FARM ANIMALS 
are often fed dairy cows, corn more so than other cereals. 
On farms where alfalfa and clover form the bulk ration, 
corn may be fed if its market value is on a level with 
the best meals and other grains. If corn silage is fed 
in connection with timothy, mixed grasses and corn stover, 
corn would not be a desirable food. There will be wanted 
in this instance, and in others like it, concentrates such as oil 
meal, wheat bran, gluten, distillers’ grains or other concen- 
trates having protein as the predominating factor. 
12. Grain and quality of butter—The character of the 
food frequently influences the quality of the butter. The 
white, hard, tasteless character of winter butter is the 
result of food. Fresh pasture, bright legume hays, corn 
silage and soiling crops give color to milk and to butter. 
Gluten and corn produce a soft butter. Wheat bran 
makes a harder butter than either. If much of gluten 
is introduced into a ration, the butter will be soft, but 
its hardness may be improved by the use of cottonseed 
meal, a feed that makes a very hard butter. By mixing 
the two, a better grade will be obtained than if either 
is used alone. When cows are on pasture, a pound or 
two of cottonseed meal helps to counteract the objection- 
able softness of butter during the pasture season. 
13. Salt and water—Cows should have salt, either 
added to the rations or furnished in lump form. If added to 
the feed, from a half ounce to an ounce and a half should be 
furnished daily to each cow. One ounce of sulphur added 
to each pound of salt gives good results. Cows do not need 
to have water kept before them continuously, summer or 
winter. They need a liberal supply at all seasons, however ; 
and ice water is not good, since they often will drink really 
less than they need. If comfortably stabled in winter, 
natural water, even if cold, will be satisfactory. 
