THIRTY-EIGHTH ANNUAL CONVENTION 165 



the grain for every four or five pounds of milk produced. This 

 ration shows a small amount of grain per pound of milk pro- 

 duced, but the silage contains grain. The amount of grain 

 should be varied according to both the character of the roughage 

 and the quality of the milk produced. If desired, the amount of 

 hay could be decreased and the silage and linseed meal increased 

 or bran added. 



By following this method and keeping in mind what has 

 been said about the roughage, or bulk of the ration and the effect 

 of the feeds on the animal, it is easy to make up balanced rations. 

 Dairymen cannot afford to feed a separate grain mixture to each 

 cow, but must make up a combination of grains for the entire 

 herd and vary the amount to individual cows according to their 

 production. 



The careful feeder will find that it will pay to study the 

 above method and be able to make up his own combinations of 

 feed. The following rations should give good results but may 

 not be the most economical, because of the variation in the price 

 of feed from time to time. These rations can be changed readi- 

 ly by making substitutions according to the directions given. 



In the following rations, it is not intended that each cow 

 shall receive the exact number of pounds of grain mentioned 

 but that the grains be mixed in these proportions. Where alfalfa 

 hay, or cowpea hay or good silage is fed, these grains should be 

 fed at the rate of about one pound of grain daily for each four 

 to five pounds of milk produced. When such roughages as 

 timothy, stover and clover are given, much more grain should be 

 fed. The richer the milk, the more grain should be fed per pound 

 of milk produced. The amount given below each ration is about 

 an average. 



Rations Sufficient for a 1,000-Pound Cow. 



NO. 1. 



Roughage . . Alfalfa hay at will 



Grain Ground corn or ground corn and cob, feed one pound per day 



for each 4 pounds of milk produced. 



For very heavy milkers, add a little bran. 



For very light milkers, the hay can be reduced. 



