




Even Good Pasture Is Not Enough for Cows 
High-producing cows cannot eat enough grass per day 
to maintain flesh and a high production. It is true that 
grass stimulates extra production in many cows, but 
some cows will lose flesh and drop in production later if 
they are not fed additional feed. 
FIRST, DRY HAY—Feeding a small amount of dry 
hay throughout the pasture season is a practice adopted 
by many dairymen with excellent results. Pasture grass 
is a rather laxative feed. The dry hay slows up the grass 
through the digestive tract and more nutrients are as- 
similated by the cow. The feeding of 4 to 5 pounds of 
dry hay per day also helps cows to hold up in production 
better during the fall months. Yearling heifers and dry 
cows also will do much better if they receive some dry 
hay each day. 
SECOND, GRAIN—Heavy producing cows will need 
some grain. This need not be in large amounts nor of a 
high protein content. A 12 to 16 per cent protein mixture 
usually is sufficient. Feed Guernseys and Jerseys one 
pound of grain for each 4 or 5 pounds of milk if pro- 
ducing more than 20 pounds per day. Other breeds 
should receive one pound of grain for each 5 or 6 pounds 
of milk if they are giving more than 25 pounds of milk 
per day. The amount of grain fed will depend upon 
quality and amount of pasture available and the in- 
dividual cow. 
THIRD, DRY WEATHER —If pasture becomes short 
during July and August, it will be necessary to feed sup- 
plemental feeds, such as silage, green soy beans, green 
corn, more hay, or heavier grain. 
FOURTH, CLIPPING—Clipping pastures makes for 
better feed. The shorter, newer grass is more palatable 
and more nutritious. Keep the young grass growing 
similar to a lawn. Most pastures should be clipped two 
or three times during the season. 
k ok ok 
When Bare Spots Show in the Alfalfa Field 
Cover them with the following mixture figured on a per 
acre basis: 6 pounds of timothy, 4 pounds of red clover 
and 2 pounds of alsike, on the thin spots. In some cases 
this can be increased to a little heavier seeding on an 
acre basis. This is particularly true if the total amount 
of thin spots in entire field is not much in actual acreage. 
Manure these thin spots, apply fertilizer on the basis 
of 300 to 350 pounds of 3-12-6 or 4-12-4. It would prob- 
ably not be advantageous to lime. Undoubtedly lime 
was applied at the time of seeding. 
10 





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selling to a cheese industry Bye 
Ow rapidly after the war. . 
hese ndustry is only one of these futu 
tending to level off the feast’ 
valleys of the past. 
Make Hay at the Right Time 
Tests showed that 1,628 lbs. of alfalfa cut in the bud 
stage produced as many pounds gain on cattle as 3,910 
lbs. of alfalfa cut when dead ripe. You’ll get best results 
from alfalfa if you cut when the buds nearest the base 
of the plant have just started. Maybe you won’t get as 
much hay, but in modern feeding the quality is more im- 
portant than quantity. Cutting at this time will give you 
more actual FEED. Just one thing to be careful of. Let 
one crop reach full bloom stage before cutting to pro- 
long the life of your stand. 
Timothy should be cut right in the full bloom stage. 
At this time, it can yield 20 per cent more DIGESTIBLE 
dry matter and 50 per cent more protein per acre than 
Timothy cut when the seed is ripe. Cutting in the early 
bloom stage gives less feeding value per acre than cutting 
right at full bloom. 
Red Clover will give the highest yield of protein 
and the highest feed value per acre if cut when one-third 
to full bloom. Mammoth should also be cut at this stage, 
but Alsike is at its best feed value when cut later, as the 
brown seed heads begin to appear. 
This year above all others, the feeding value of your 
hay is the thing that counts most. Add pounds of milk 
or meat for every trip of your mower around the field 
by cutting at the right time. 




about your orchard? Has there been some- 
overlooked ... possibly a crop for between 
ws? This New Jersey farm puts alfalfa to 
( od use oe courtesy Soil Conservation 
