The Wisconsin tobacco reporter. (Edgerton, Wis.) 1877-1950, 1903-02-13

been studying the question of econom-
ically feeding the milk COW. He had
as rations to choose from corn stover at
So per ton, red clover at So, ensilage at
So, timothy hay at SIS, bran at $50,
finseed meal at $50, cornmeal and glu-
ten meal and oats each at $31. From
these he could compound several desir-
able rations, but most of them cost
more than the product of an ordinary
good cow would pay for. He estimated
that her product should be twenty
pounds of milk a day, worth ~ cents a
pound, or 80 cents a day. But with
eighteen pounds of corn slower, forty
pounds of ensilage, one pound of bran,
two of cOrnmeal and three of cotton
seed meal he had mixture that would
keep cow in good condition at cost
of 20 cents a day. In this ration he has
not taken into consideration the max
ing of any gain in flesh or the value of
manure, both of which would be in
creased by giving a part of red clover
instead of SO much corn slower, without
greatly increasing the cost of ration.
How often Shall We Feedc
Cows appear to give better results
when fed twice a day than when fed
more frequently. When fed so fire.
quently as three or five times day
they are up ON their feet straining and
worrying for their feed some time be-
fore it gets to them. Investigations
have recently taught that an animal is
using energy when standing that if ly-
ing might go to some other use. Rumi-
nants have large stomachs, and the
more quickly the stomach is filled and
the animal lies down, contented and
satisfied, the better the returns will be
for the owner. 1t is we'll understood it
will cost less and be more convenient
to feed the ration in two feeds than
oftener.
Feeding Fresh Cows.
In answer to a correspondents ques-
ton regarding the amount to feed fresh
pounds of silage, Is pounds Of clover
hay and pounds each Of bran and
gluten feed would contain nearly %
pounds of dry matter, but little less
than 3 pounds Of digestible protein,
over 10 pounds of digestible carbOhy-
drates and seven-tenths of a pound Of
digestible fat. This is very heavy feed
ing. more, we should suppose, than
any, even extra large, COWS could be
induced to eat and much more than the
average COW can eat with profit. We
are of the opinion that 80 pounds of
silage, 10 pounds of clover hay and not
to exceed pounds Of grain would be
ample as an average allowance for
these COWS. At all events we do not
hesitate to advise trying the result of
reducing the allowance with q portion
Of the herd. If with reduced feed there
is a reduced milk supply, the evidence
would seem to warrant going back to
the original allowance.
Caused Abortion.
Several years ago we had a great
quantity Of muskmelons and water
melons, citrons and cucumbers, which
we cut in small pieces and fed to three
milk COWS and were very much pleased
with the result, says correspondent
of Rural New Yorker But after about
two weeks we found that with one Of
the COWS an abortion had been pro-
duced, and it Immediately occurred to
me that it must have been the seeds.
My uncle was a veterinary surgeon,
and 1 asked him if my surmise was
correct, and he said: Eyes; in all proba-
bility it was the seeds. 1t is a we'll
known fact in the study of medicine
that any food or medicine that acts
powerfully on the kidneys also affects
to a greater or less extent the genera
tive organs Three years ago we
raised a great quantity of squashes,
and after gathering what were good
we turned the COWS into the field, and
they ate them, as many as they pleased,
but with the same result.
Forming Habits.
If q COW does not show a strong in
clination to go dry within two months
of the time she is expected to drop q
calf, her feed should be as light as will
keep her in fair flesh. She should have
no grain feed, and she should not be
MIXED Cry, hut less and less and less
often. On The other hand, if young
COW shows an inclination to go dry too
soon, make every effort to prolong her
milking period by more succulent food
and reasonable increase in the grain ra-
ton. Remember that lie habits per-
mitted with first calf - q tendency
To tiNJ1 +h0pao
Feeding Twice "a Day.
At q recent dairymen's meeting at
tended by the writer one Of the speak
ers, very practical and successful
man, advised feeding cows only twice
q day, since he had seen the plan en-
p1Oyed with results just as good as
when the cattle had three meals and
with a considerable saving in labor.
Yet the speaker confessed that he still
fed his COWS three times q day, merely
because he feared that q change would
cause temporary shrinkage in the milk
yield. But there is no need to fear
such effects, says American Cultiyator.
Tho xx-5ifo,s 70 from