FORTY-SECOND ANNUAL CONVENTION 239 



cost of land and the prices of dairy prodticts are high, and the 

 system of farming of necessity, is intensive, it is questionable 

 whether the dairyman should consider any other silage crop. 



Roots. 



The chief function of roots in cattle feeding is to supply a 

 succulent feed. Under general farm conditions the quantity of 

 nutrients grown per acre in root crops is small in comparison to 

 the cost of production. These root crops, however, can be pre- 

 served during the winter equally well whether large or small 

 quantities are fed each day, and therefore have special applica- 

 tion when only a few cows are to be fed. Of the different root 

 crops, mangel-wurzels furnish the greatest yield per acre. Other 

 kinds of beets and turnips and carrots may be used. Turnips, 

 however, should be fed after milking rather than before, as they 

 cause a bad flavor in the products if fed immediately before milk- 

 ing. Carrots impart a desirable color to the milk. 



Dry Roughage. 



The best kind of dry roughage to be fed to the dairy cow, 

 in connection with corn silage or roots, are leguminous hays, 

 such as alfalfa, red, crimson, or alsike clover and soy-bean or 

 cowpea hay. While corn silage is an excellent feed, it is not a 

 balanced one, as it does not contain sufficient protein and min- 

 eral matter to meet fully the requirements of the cow. The le- 

 guminous hays, in addition to being very palatable, have a ten- 

 dency to correct this deficiency. They are also one of the best 

 and cheapest sources of protein. One or more of these hays can 

 be grown on any farm, and in addition to their value ^or feeding 

 purposes, they improve the soil in which they are grown. Hay 

 from Canada field peas, sown with oats to prevent the peas from 

 lodging, also makes an excellent roughage. 



Corn stover, coarse hay, etc., also find a good market 

 through the dairy cow. This class of roughage is low in pro- 

 tein, however, and when it is used the grain ration must be rich- 

 er in protein. 



