The Iowa plain dealer. [volume] (New Oregon, Howard County, Iowa) 1867-1895, 1890-12-18
FOOD FOR MICH COWS.

Relics to b Observed In the Saiscti on ssa
lars VI Good Miiksrs-Proht In Feed.
Ink.
Many diarymen get the impression
that great .elds OF milk are the result
Of particular breeds Of cows and Of spe-
cial breeding OF stock for the diary.
Much depends on breeds and breeding.
it is true. but there Is another important
element in securing largo 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 yiold but poor re-
turns when fed on ''scanty pastures and
moonshine." Milk is made from the
food that is given TO the COW, and .
large yield requires > largo supply OF
nutriment Great mixers are univer-
sally great feeders. We have never yet
been able to obtain cow that would
yield large amount Of milk on . small
amount Of food. II there are breeds OF
this kind they have not como under our
observation. We have no faith in cows
for tho diary that are dainty eaters.
In selecting mich cows, or stock OF
whatever breed. the capacious stomach
and the hearty eater are marks not to DO
ignored among the other we'll known
characteristics sought for in . good
COW. We notice from time to time ac-
counts 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
to be obtained BY judicious breeding OF
stock for the dairy, the fact must not be
lost sight Of that . great share OF the
dairyman's success lies in the art Of
feeding. Good food and plenty Of it, is
necessary in order to have COWS do we'll.
When cows are coming in, the last Of
March or drst of April, feeding should
be commenced as soon a. the middle Of
March ut least From four to Ave
quarts Of corn and oat meal, one quart
Of oil meal and eight quarts OF wheat or
rye bran frye is best), make good feed.
This should be fed until the middle Of
May, when. II grass Is plenty. the meal
may be dropped of and about twelve
quarts Of bran fed per day. up to the
first of January. or until corn Is dry.
Corn fodder We consider ono of the very
best articles Of food for the COW. It
should be sowcd or drilled in, and Is
soon . the pastures begin to dry or fail,
commence feeding il, and continue to
feed until frost comea 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. Itpays better to feed
it in this way than eny other, and whom
the cows are dry they will be fat, and
can be wintered on almost any kind OF
fodder, and will not lose their flesh.
The cost Of feeding cows in this way
will be about IS per head. and they
will yield, certainly. twohundred pounds
more cheese per head than without
feed. Then, too. the value OF tho cows
(by feeding) either to winter or to put
into the market will b increased by q,
least $40 per head. And more than
this. one-fourth more cows can, BY feed
ing, be kept on the same pasture than
could be kept il nothing but grass is fed,
while, by feeding, many tons OF valu'
able feed goes onto tho farm as manure.
But does it pay? We will see whether
it does or not Take, II you please
thirty-two COWS with no feed but grass
Each COW will yield about four hundred
pounds OF cheese. This. At twelve and
one-half cents per pound, will bring
$1,000. Forty cows, with feed. can b
kept on the same pasture as thirty-twt
without feed, and will yield six hun
dred pounds of cheese each, which. .
twelve and onc-balf cents per pound
will amount to 81. COO The cost Of :.feed
at SIS per head will amount to $1,000
The interest on eight extra cows vii
be about s. per head, or $4s. which, will
the cost OF feed, is to be deducted from
| the amount received for the cheese
which is 81, 900. This leaves . profit o
$l,s52. Then, by feeding, the cows ar'
worth $40 per head more. making $40
to be added to the profits. This give
S2,35a. Now, by taking the differenc
between tho amount made from fort
cows by feeding, and from thirty-tw
cows on the same pasture without extr
feed, we find it leaves balance of SIS
in favor OF feeding.
1t will pay every farmer to feed hi
stock we'll. especially mitch cows Ever
successful farmer does this, and too
of no kind is profitable without feeding
! Ohio Farmer.