The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1897-09-08
Supplementing the Pasture.

This is a very important matter
with the dairyman, as on it in con-
siderable measure will depend his
success in the business. Milk is the
basis upon which he works, whether
he makes it into butter or cheese him
self, or otherwise disposes of it.
First there should be quantity then
quality, and he who can combine both
to reasonable extent, will be the
most successful.
Then there should be a class Of
COWS that will properly respond to
rational treatment, that can and should
be fed and cared for to the best paying
extent. It will not be safe to 60 be.
yond this point and comparatively
few will do it.
Where summer dairying is practiced
there should be abundant provision
for supplying the cows with supple
mentary feed when the grass in the
pastures is not sufficient for the pur.
pose.
In most cases this will be necessary,
and the time for commencing to feed
should not be deferred until there is
already considerable decrease in the
yield of milk, fo: where this is the
case it will be found difficult regainipg
what has been lost.
If the crops calculated for this pur-
pose are not in condition to feed as
soon as wanted, then something else
should be substituted for the time.
Certain kinds of grain feeds, such as
oats, bran and gluten, will answer a
good purpose; indeed, some of the
best dairymen find it profitable to
feed small amount of grain all
through the summer season, not only
when the grass is good, but along with
the soiling crops, finding this adds to
the value of the ration as is shown by
the results at the pail.
The kinds of forage crops to use for
this purpose will depend on the sea-
son and location, as they may not be
the same in all parts of the country.
Clover-frst or second crop-is one
Of the best that can be used as long as
it lasts, and where this most useful
plant thrives in some of it's varieties, it
should be largely grown for this pur-
pose and for hay. Like corn, it is
adapted to large part of the United
States. Rye, oats, or peas and oats,
can be brought into use before corn is
in condition to feed. There are kinds
enough from which to select if the
farmer is careful to grow them for the
purpose.
Corn, more than any other crop, is
raised for soiling, and with proper at
tention can be made to last long time
in feeling, from using different vari-
eties OF seed or planting at intervals.
Putting it in the silo for summer
feeding, before it can be grown for the
purpose, is getting to be more prao-
ticed as its value becomes more fully
ascertained.
At the West and South there may be
no other crops than those mentioned
that can be successfully used for sup.
Elementary feeding.
Here also the grain feeds are largely
produced, and if they can be proftably
shipped East to feed to stock, then
certainly it would seem there should
he IL good market for them at home.
There, along with the rich grasses
peculiar to this region, and abundant
forage crops ought to give the best re.
suits in milk, butter and cheese, in
large amounts and of finest quality, as
is not being attained in the growth and
fattenirg of animals.
In following out some of these
methods there should he correspond
ingly good results in stimulating and
sustaining to q profitable extent the
milk product from the dairy through
the season, thus placing the business
on q much more satisfactory basis than
is the case where little or no attention
is paid 20 this kind of work.
Where winter dairying is followed
and proper provision has been made
for the purpose, there should not be
very much variation in yield of milk,
not so much as during the summer sea-
son unless the conditions are equally
favorable.