196 ILLINOIS STATE DAIRYMEN'S ASSOCIATION. 



in lie otherwise well conducted herds, is for all animals ". be 

 fed the same amount of grain regardless of the period of lacta- 

 tion or the quantity of milk individual cows are producing. Such 

 feeding always lacks economy, as the high producing cow does 

 not get enough and while she may milk very well for a short time 

 she soon comes down to a lower level, while the lighter produc- 

 ing cow usually gets too much and accumulates fat. 



One of the difficult problems which confronts the practical 

 feeder is how to adjust the quantity of feed to meet these indi- 

 vidual requirements. It can be done fairly well even in the 

 large herds by observing how much milk the cow is producing 

 and whether she is gaining or losing in body weight. 



Amount of Grain and and Roughness to Feed. — The cow 

 being adapted by nature for consuming bulky feeds does not feel 

 satisfied unless she has sufficient bulk to the ration given at all 

 times. An animal that is fed too much grain in proportion to 

 the amount of roughness may seem hungry, while she really has 

 a sufficient amount of nutrient, but so concentrated that it does 

 not have sufficient bulk. In order to keep the animal filled up 

 at all times and in the natural condition she should be fed prac- 

 tically all the roughness she will eat up clean at all times, and 

 the difference in ration given different animals should be, not in 

 the roughness fed to any great extent, but in the amount of grain 



The following rules regarding the amount to feed cows 

 covers the case fairly well : 



1. Feed all the roughness they will eat up clean at all 

 times. 



2. Feed one pound of grain per day for each pound of but- 

 ter fat produced per week, or one pound of grain daily for each 

 three pounds of milk. 



3. Feed all the cows will take without gaining in weight. 



The rule regarding the amount of grain to feed per day for 

 each cow applies best when based upon the amount of butter fat 

 produced per week, as this makes it applicable to any breed. The 



