Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1877-07-18
Extra Green Food for Cows

We have repeatedly dwelt on the
necessity Of keeping mich COWS at all
times in uniformly good condition.
Any deterioration not only causes a
speedy decrease in the yield Of milk,
but even after extra feeding has restor-
ed the animal to her former good state,
it often happens that the former flow of
milk does not readily return. When
ever, therefore, there is any likelihood
Of a scarcity of ordinary food or pasture,
1t is always advisable to have at hand
some means of temporarily supple
menting the scant supply. We fully
agree with late article in the National
Live Stock Journal, that as there is a
constant relation between the food
eaten and the milk produced by good
COWS, the dairyman should seek for
cows of a vigorous appetite and strong
digestion-the more food the more
milk. Some cows have such feeble
appetite and digestion that they con-
sumo only about food enough to man
tain their normal condition, and do not
yield milk enough TO pay to keep while,
in other cases, the dairyman, not APP
preciating the philosophy Of the pro-
duction Of milk, instead Of generous
feeding, that he may get liberal re-
turn, feeds his cows so scantly that his
profits are even less than his feeding.
Such dairyman only feed well, fatal
when the cow is at pasture during
the growing season and when that be-
comes short, his cows only pick enough
to live. This becomes a most destruc-
tive waste of his profits.
Every dairyman should provide a
liberal supply of extra food for'such a
contingency. This dry time often 5oc-
ours in July, and thus checks the yield
of milk, which can never be fully re-
gained. In many cases, this loss
amounts to one-third the annual yield
of milk-which is really all the profit.
A little extra green food Of oats, rye.
millet, Hungarian grass, clover, or corn,
will keep up the flow ofmilk, and tide
them over this short supply of pasture ;
and when the rains bring the fresh fall
grass, it will be ready to supply the
best food to continue a good how..ot
milk till late in the season, making a
profitable return. The dairyman should
never permit his herd to subsist wholly
upon a scanty pasture, even for a week.
1t is much better to feed little grain
to make up the deficiency, if he have
not such green food as mentioned. But,
if he desires to make a wise provision
for such contingency, he may do SC
by sowing one-eighth to one-fourth o.
an acre of oats for eachcow kept, abou,
sixty days before the time short pas.
ture is likely to occur.
Having herd Of cows, several small
pieces Of ground may be sown, so as te
be in the right stage for feeding at diff.
erent times. Oats are best for feeding
in green state when in the milk. Us
ually, one acre to eight COWS will be
sufficient; but it is well to sow double
that quantity, to meet any possible
deficiency, and any surplus may be lef
to ripen and be harvested as grain
Any Of the other kinds of grain men
toned may be sown if the land is suita
BILE; but it is usually better to SOW sew,
eral kinds-for instance, part oats, par
millet or Hungarian grass, and par
sowed corn. Variety is better than I
single food, both for health and produc
of milk. 1t will be seen that all these
kinds of grain or grass may be sowet
for other purposes, if not needed fol
feeding green, and that, therefore
there can be no loss in making this
preparation.
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