FIFTY-THIRD ANNUAL CONVENTION 135 



MINERALS FOR DAIRY COWS 



Profs. E. B. Hart & F. B. Morrison 

 Wisconsin College of Agriculture 



No question is probably discussed more frequently by 

 farmers at the present time than the mineral requirements 

 of livestock and especially of dairy cows. This whole gen- 

 eral question is discussed in detail in Wisconsin Bulletin 350, 

 Minerals for Livestock. For convenience and ready refer- 

 ence this statement concerning the mineral needs of dairy 

 cows has been prepared. 



Always Supply Plenty of Common Salt 



Dairy cows must have plenty of salt in order to thrive. 

 Allow them to have free access to salt or feed it to them in 

 their feed. Many dairymen mix 0.5 to 1 lb. of salt with 

 100 lbs. of concentrate mixture or grain mixture, and then 

 supply salt in addition so the cows can take what they wish. 

 (See Bulletin 350, Page 3.) 



Salt is cheap. Don't neglect supplying it. 



Guard Against Goiter 



If trouble has been experienced from goiter or "big 

 neck" in calves, this may be prevented in the future by giv- 

 ing patassium or sodium iodide to the cows through the 

 gestation period. Where there is no trouble from goiter 

 this treatment is not needed. (For a full discussion and 

 method of treatment see Bulletin 350, Pages 4 to 10.) 



Cows Need Plenty of Calcium (Lime) and Phosphorus 



Milk is very rich in both calcium (lime) and phos- 

 phorus. Therefore, dairy cows must receive liberal sup- 

 plies of both these minerals to make possible continued 



