136 ILLINOIS STATE DAIRYMEN'S ASSOCIATION 



high production and to have thrifty offspring. In the usual 

 dairy rations there is more danger of a lack of calcium 

 than there is in phosphorus. This is because the protein- 

 rich feeds most common in Wisconsin are also rich in 

 phosphorus. This includes wheat bran in particular and 

 also wheat middlings, cottonseed meal, and linseed meal. 

 Gluten feed, germ oil meal (corn germ meal), brewers' 

 grains and distillers' grains are not especially high in phos- 

 phorus. 



When 20 per cent or more of the concentrate mixture 

 or grain mixture consists of wheat bran, wheat middlings, 

 linseed meal, or cottonseed meal, the cows will get plenty 

 of phosphorus. If less of these high-phosphorus feeds is 

 fed, it is best to supply additional phosphorus by adding 

 bone meal, as stated later. 



Calcium is Important 



A large production of milk and thrifty calves are an 

 impossibility if there is a lack of calcium in the ration. The 

 best way of furnishing plenty of lime is to grow and feed an 

 abundance of alfalfa, clover, or soybean hay whenever it 

 is possible. All legume hays are rich in line. Furthermore, 

 well-cured, green colored hay, cured in the sun, contains a 

 vitamine which animals need to enable them to assimilate 

 and use the calcium in their feed. 



If poor roughage must be used, such as hay from the 

 grasses (not legumes) corn stover grown on acid soil, or 

 straw, add 3 to 4 lbs. of ground limestone, wood ashes, or 

 dried marl to each 100 lbs. of concentrate or grain mix- 

 ture. Preliminary experiments indicate that ordinary Wis- 

 consin limestones, which are nearly all dolomitic (high in 

 magnesium), may be used satisfactorily as a source of lime. 



If there is not 20 per cent of high-phosphorus feeds in 

 the concentrate mixture (wheat bran, wheat middlings, lin- 

 seed meal, and cottonseed meal), it is best to use 3 to 4 

 lbs. of bone meal or spent bone black with each 100 lbs. of 

 the concentrate mixture, instead of using the limestone, 

 wood ashes, or marl. Bone meal and spent bone black 



