^^ Illinois State Dairymen's Association. 



A ration not properly balanced tends to bring about a poor 

 physical condition. 



A cow in poor physical condition can not consume large 

 quantities of food nor can she make the best use of food con- 

 suemd. 



Much depends upon the kind and quality of roughage used. 



DISCUSSION. 



Q. — How were the cows watered during the winter ? Were 

 they allowed to help themselves to all the water they wanted ? 



A. — They were turned out to water twice daily and the water 

 was reasonably warm every time. They were allowed to go 

 to the trough and drink what they wanted. It seemed evident 

 that those given alfalfa drank more water than those given the 

 timothy. 



Q. — Were they salted every day? 



A. — They were salted every day. 



O. — Were they salted in the feed or allowed to have what 

 they wanted? 



A. — The salt was fed with the grain, the same amount to 

 every cow. 



Q. — What is the difference in the cost of the two rations ? 



A. — I have not figured that up, Mr. Mason, but the timothy 

 hay we valued at the same price as clover hay. The ensilage 

 would be the same in both cases. All the extra cost would proba- 

 bly be the difference between the cost of corn meal and the cost 

 of gluten feed, and we paid $20 for corn meal and $23 for gluten 

 meal. 



Q. When did you buy your gluten feed at that price? 



A. Over a year ago. Gluten feed now is about $27 a ton. 



The President: — This is an important subject, one that we 

 are all interested in. It seems to me we ought to have more 

 discussion on the feed, or a few more questions at any rate. You 

 can find no better authority than Professor Hayden. 



Q. — Does a person get the same results by feeding alfalfa 

 meal as hay? 



A. — We have not tried alfalfa meal, but if it is good alfalfa 

 meal, what alfalfa meal should be, you will get the sme results 

 but you pay more for alfalfa meal than straight alfalfa. They 



