FIFTIETH ANNUAL CONVENTION 35 



MINERALS FOR DAIRY COWS 



E. B. Hart and F. B. Morrison, 

 Wisconsin College of Agriculture 



No question is probably discussed more frequently by 

 farmers at the present time than the mineral requirements 

 of livestock and especially of dairy cows. This whole gen- 

 eral question is discussed in detail in Wisconsin Bulletin 350, 

 Minerals for Livestock. For convenience and ready refer- 

 ence this statement concerning the mineral needs by dairy 

 cows has been prepared,. 



Always Supply Plenty of Common Salt. 



Dairy cows must have plenty of salt in order to thrive. 

 Allow them to have free access to salt, or feed it to them 

 regularly in their feed. Many dairymen mix 0.5 to 1 lb. 

 of salt with each 100 lbs. of concentrate mixture or grain 

 mixture, and then supply salt in addition so the cows can 

 take what they wish. (See Bulletin 350, Page 3). 



Salt is cheap. Don't neglect supplying it. 



Guard Against Goiter. 



If trouble has been experienced from goiter or "big 

 neck" in calves, this may be prevented in the future by giv- 

 ing potassium or sodium iodide to the cows throughout the 

 gestation period. Where there is no trouble from goiter, 

 this treatment is not needed. (For a full discussion and 

 method of treatment see Bulletin 350, Pages 4 to 10). 



Cows Need Plenty of Calcium (Lime) and Phosphorus. 



Milk is very rich in both calcium (lime) and phos- 

 phorus. Therefore, dairy cows must receive liberal supplies 

 of both these minerals to secure continued high production 

 and to have thrifty offspring. In the usual dairy rations 



