ILLINOIS DAIRYMEN'S ASSOCIATION. 



267 



on securing hay and fodder in the best possible condition. If 

 hay is unduly exposed to dew and rain during the time of curing 

 it loses much, both in nutrition and palatability. It is also im- 

 portant that hay and fodder be cut at the proper stage, before 

 becoming too ripe and the stems woody. 



Leguminous plants, (those bearing their seeds in pods or 

 legumes), as clover, alfalfa, cow peas, beans, etc., are rich in 

 protein and should be raised in sufficient quantities to supply the 

 necessary protein for the stock. If the supply of protein is defi- 

 cient some feed rich in that substance should be purchased to 

 complete the ration. 



Grain feed should not usually compose over half the ration, 

 and from that to nothing according to the character of the rough- 

 age available and amount of milk being given by the cow. In 

 general it is a safe rule to feed liberally on good roughage and 

 vary the grain feed to suit the requirements of the individual. 



When cows have luxurient pasture during the late spring be- 

 fore the heat is excessive or flies troublesome, the conditions are 

 as near ideal for dairy cows as it is easy to obtain. The nearer 

 we can approach this condition the year around the better for milk 

 production. It is, therefore, essential to the best yields and most 

 economical results, that succulent food be provided for cows dur- 

 ing the winter months. There are two ways of providing this 

 succulent food, — by silage and by root crops. 



By comparing the results obtained at several different exper- 

 iment stations it is found that corn commonly yields about twice 

 as much dry matter per acre as root crops. Since roots require 

 much more hand labor, which is so expensive in this country, it 

 is more economical for the Illinois farmer to get the succulent 

 feed during the winter from the corn silage than from root crops. 



Silage is especially valuable on farms or in communities 

 where rough feed is scarce, for more stock can be kept on a given 

 area of land with the silo than in any other way, with the same 

 amount of labor expended. No farmer keeping ten or more cows 

 can afford to be without a silo. 



