The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1897-03-17
FEEDING For A BIG FLOW OF nnnK.

IL ne huOuub Oh Iulik DIOuuC6u rum
our herd for the months of February,
March and April last was 100, ,3S5
pounds OF over fifty tons. The herd
averaged during this time from forty
to fifty-one mixers, writes A. b.
Southwick in New England Home
stead. Twenty of these COWS had been
milking from six to twelve months, the
rest having produced calves at differ
ent times during the winter. All feed
is given dry. The hay fed is what is
known to the market as mixed clover.
The grain is mixture of oats and corn
in equal parts, ground, with best quail
ity wheat bran and middlings mixed
in to suit the conditions of the various
animals. Each animal is fed accord
ins 10 her condition and needs. The
COW that feels the best and is in the
most robust health all the time, il q
good one, is the one that will produce
the mosl profitable milk for his owner.
do not expect to get something from
nothing, and l do not expect to get a
good flow of milk without feed, but it
is certain that more depends upon the
perfect condition of the COW than q
great amount of feed, when the amount
of milk produced is considered.
Our COWS evidently were raised in
neighborhoods where excellent grade
and native COWS are kept and whore
good bulls have been used to the ex-
clusion of scrubs. Appearances indi-
cate that Holstein, Ayrshire and Short.
la., go Jao oro about tba oulxy lraade
represented. 1t is found that good
size, good form and a good mellow
skin are desirable features to buy.
Doubtless there are many herds that
can show greater record, but think
the doings of this herd can be consid.
cred good and it shows to degree the
advantage of wedding out poor aui-
mails.
L am firm believer in keeping
abreast of the times in dairying, and
feel sorry for the man who is willing
to continue in the ruts, but when we
consider the subject of feed for COWS
question sometimes whether We follow
common sense or fads. 1t seems to
me there can be but one idea, and it
is that whatever suits the COW the
best-that', (which is the means of keep
ing her in the most robust condition
of health, and causes her to produce
the largest quantity of milk, rich in
butter fat-is the cheapest feed and
the only profitable one, whatever the
cost may be. Green forage in sum
mer, the best of pasture if possible,
with good sound grain, as corn and
oats finely ground, with best coarse
wheat bran mixed with it in reason.
able quantity, to suit the condition OF
the animal, is found to be reliable and
satisfactory. In winter good, sweet,
early cut hay, vegetables, same mix.
ture of grain, is reliable and as cheap,
all things considered, as any of the
I variety of methods now followed il
dairy farming. What has nature pro
vided the capacious stomach of The
perfect dairy COW for if not for the
purpose of receiving and digestine
the sweet and fragrant hay and grass
which produces the highest and most
satisfactory results? One is disgusted
with the gaunted appearance of the
noble COW that is compelled to satisfy
herself with little stingy ration oi
ensilage, with some nostrum in the
shape of grain, all for the reason that
the cost is the lowest and reduced tc
the minimum. do not believe it evel
paid man to ride hobby, and dc
not believe it ever will pay to feed en-
silage indiscriminately, as the majority
do. But / do think this class of feeC
has its place and can be used to grea
advantage when farmers become edu
eated up to its most profitable use.
believe farmers err in feeding too
much grain at one time. Cattle tina
are receiving grain, and especially i
this true OF milch COWS, would receiv
very much more benefit from sucl
feed if the rations we're given in small
er quantity and oftener. This plan i
far safer for the health as we'll. Th
COW that gets six quarts of grain a da,
will get the most benefit by givin
this at six different feeds. This is ex
treme, as most of us are not situate
so we can carry out such plan, bu
it serves to illustrate the idea. l hay
found satisfaction in going slow whe
considering the advisability OF chang
ing any well-tried and highly satisfa,
tory method of feeding for somethin
new.
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