Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1901-07-15
OUR FARMERS.
GLUTEN FEED.

One of the questions that comes to
the dairyman for solution is what to
feed to get the most milk. This
question is also of Importance to all
keepers of mich COWS. In other
words, what feeds or combination of
feeds will produce the most milk at
the least cost, Will give the best net
return. Investigations along the line
of feeding have shown conclusively
that the mich COW must have a
sufficient quantity Of flesh forming or
milk forming elements of food with
out too much of the fat forming ele-
! ments to produce NJ ilk most proftably.
! This flesh forming or milk forming or
muscle forming element is called pro-
! tein. Feeds ordinarily raised on the
farm in their natural state do not have
sufficient protein for best results, so it
| feed on the farm or go off the farm
and buy some concentrated feed to
mix with the feed raised on the farm.
A feed very rich in protein, when
mixed with the feeds raised on the
| farm, will raise the quantity of protein
to the right place without overlooking
| the fat forming elements or carbohy
drates.
One hundred pounds of wheat con-
taines 1O23 pounds of protein. If we
sell the wheat and buy bran we get in
100 bounds of bran 1901 pounds of
protein. So we have raised the
quantity of protein by so much in our
given quantity Of feed. The COW does
not have to eat quite so much extra
to get the required quantity ofprotein.
One hundred pounds of corn (kernels)
contain 1872 pounds Of protein. So
COW would have to eat more corn than
wheat to get the required quantity Of
of protein. But if we buy gluten feed
or gluten meal, both products in
the manufacture of starch from corn,
we get in 100 of the first 20.4 pounds
of prot elm, and in the second 25.4
pounds. Hence, when the COW is eat
ing these feeds she is consuming far
less quantity Of those elements which
produce fat to get the required
quantity of protein. In other words,
the proportion Of protein to fat pro-
ducing elements is made smaller and
more milk and less fat, body fat, is
produced.
Gluten feed is, however, not very
palatable food and COWS will not eat
it alone. Dairyman have tried this
only to find that their COWS would not
eat it. On account Of lacking palata-
bility, it is not sufficient feed of it
self. But when mixed dry, with bran,
COWS can be got to eat it all right.
When beginning to teed gluten care
must be used to feed only a small
quantity at first, as the COWS become
''stalled'' easily on if, and have to be
taught to eat it, much as some people
teach themselves to eat olives with
relish. Feed, say, half a pound, or
even less, at feed to begin with,
then raise gradually for several days,
watching closely that no cow is over
fed, as it is harder to get them to eat
it when once "stalled." Four pounds
per day will usually be found sufficient,
although if the COWS will stand it and
will make more milk, this quantity
may be increased. We have not ex-
ceeded four pounds per day scarcely
any in two winters experience. We
do not feed it when COWS are on grass.
Gluten meal is richer than gluten
feed, more concentrated, and, hence,
would have to be fed, with even more
care than gluten feed. But good re-
suits should be attained. -Erchdnge