The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1871-10-13
Agricultural.
Feeding Milch Cows.

Feeding Milch Cows.
Many dairymen get the impression
that great yields Of milk arc the result
of particular breeds of cows and Ol spoc'
ial breeding of stock for the dairy.
Much depends on breeds and breeding,
1t ia true; but there Is another impor-
tant element in securing large mixers
which must not be overlooked, and that
element Is food-food that is nutritious,
milk-producing, abundant, and of easy
access to the cows. The best cows, OF
the best breeds, will yield but poor re-
turns when fed on ''scanty pastures ana
moonshine." Milk Is made from the
food that Is given to the COW, ana
large yield requires large supply oi
nutriment. Great mixers are uniVer-
sally great feeders. We have never yet
been able TO obtain a COW that would
yield large amount of milk on small
amount of food. If there are breeds OF
this kind they have not come under
our observation. We have no faith In
cows for the dairy that are dainty caters.
In selecting milcb stock of whatever
breed, the capricious stomach and the
hearty eater are marks not to be beignored
among the well known characteristics
usually sought for In good COW.
We notice from time to time accounts
of remarkable yields of milk made by
cows Of different breeds and dairymen
often overlook the matter Of food and
feeding, thinking that the great product
is due wholly to the particular breed
named. Now, while we would not for
moment underestimate the good re-
cults TO be obtained by iudicious breod-
ing of stock for the dairy, the fact must
n ot be lost sight ofthat a great share Of
the dalrymons success lies in the art of
feeding.
Good food, and plenty of it, is neces-
sary In order to have cows do we'll.
When cows are coming in the last of
March or first of April, feeding should
be commenced as soon as the middle of
March at least.
From four to six quarts of corn and
oat meal, one quart of oil meal and
eight quarts of wheat or rye bran, frye
is be5t,) makes good feed. This should
be fed until the middle of May, when,
ifgrass is plenty, the meal may be drop.
ped OIL, and about twelve quarts of bran
fed per day, up to the first of January,
or until corn Is dry. Corn fodder i
consider one Of the very best articles of
food for the cow. 1t should be sowed
or drilled in, and as soon as the pastures
begin to dry or fall, commence feeding
1t, and continue to feed until frost comes
1t is then time for the field corn to be
cut and shocked. This should be fed
from the shock until the cows are dry.
They will be fat, and can be wintered
on almost any kind of fodder, and W i'll
hold their flesh.
The cost of feeding cows In this way
will be about S25 per head, and they
will yield, certainly, two hundred
pounds more cheese per head than with
out feed. Then, too, the value of the
COWS (by feeding) either to winter or
put into the market, will be increased
by at least $40 per head.
And more than this, one-fourth more
cows can, by feeding, be kept on the
same pasture than could be kept if moth
ing but grass is fed, while, by feeding,
many tons of valuable feed goes on to
the farm as ma anure.
But does it pay We will sec whether
1t does or not.
Take, if you please, thirty-two cows
with no feed but grass. Each cow will
yield about four hundred pounds OF
cheese. This, at twelve and a-half cents
per pound, will bring $1,000.
Forty COWS, with feed, can be kept on
the same pasture as thirty-two without
feed, and will yield six hundred pounds
of cheese each, which, at twelve and a
half cents per pound, will amount to
5000.
The cost of feed at s25 per head will
amount to 81 200. The interest on eight
extra cows will be about Sc per head, or
SiS, which, with the cost of feed, is to
be deducted from the amount received
for the cheese, which is $1,000. This
ie"Noo PAoHu VI Sl,JoA' ihehj py iSeu-
ing, the cows are worth $40 per head
more, making SI00 to be added to the
profits. This gives a2,352. Now, by
taking the difference between the
amount made from forty cows by feed
ing, and from thirty-two cows on the
same pasture without extra feed, we
find it leaves balance of s755 in favor
of feeding.-Er.