Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1904-01-14
Winter Feed and Care Of Dairy Cow.

How shall our feeds be made to yield
the most in animal products? is an
ever present question with, dairynen.
The feeding ration of the dairy COW is
a, problem which calls for solution ev-
cry winter season. Each year it has a
different aspect, owing TO the usual
changes in the crops produced annual
~ and the prices of feeds on the mar
ket says Prof. z. L. Shaw of the New
Hampshire Agricultural College.
The important food for the roughage
for the dairy COW consists of corn sto-
Yer. the different kinds of hay. roots
and silage. The use of clover hay is OF
Importance. !! 40 dry forage can prove
superior to- good clover hay for tho
dairy COW, because of it's palatability
and its relatively high protein content.
In most cases it will pay to sell the
timothy hay and use the clover hay,
even if obliged to purchase it at mar
ket prices.
Corn fodder cut at the right time,
we'll cured and stored, is one of the best
rough feeds available. The use Of oat
hay has proven quite satisfactory in
the feeding ration, and can be added to
The use OF clover hay.
Silage, principally from the corn
plant is now factor of first impor-
lance on thousands of American farms
The silage is relished by the COW and
has given the best of results in the pro-
duc:ion Of milk. Since corn silage is
rich i'll carbohydrates and low in pre-
rein, clover hay is the common rough
age to be fed with it.
The best returns from given
amount of feed, no matter how abund-
ant and satisfactory, cannot be looked
for, unless the COW has comfortable
| quarters and is intelligently handled.
| TO be probably managed and yield
wholesome milk, q COW must be COM
| fortably housed in well ventilated
+! stable in the severe winter months.
| The temperature of the stable should
not fail below 40 degrees as the mini
mum, or rise above co degrees maxi
mum. In such stable. provided with
abundance of sunlight, the dairy COW is
in condition, so far as environment is
concerned, to yield the highest returns
for the feed consumed.
| From the size Of the paunch and the
+! apparent necessity for ruminatiOn, it
4, does not seem essential for the best re-
4 suits 20 supply feed many times Il day.
i The most common practice of feeding
Il twice Il day, once in the morning and
Il once at night, with q little rough
i age at noon, appears to be 4 reason
able one, and conforms very well to
the labor requirements of the stable.
| The best practice is to feed the con-
| centrates first, followed by the silage,
hay or other rouShage.
70 skillful feeding the most success
full dairyran will add regularity and
kindness in the management of his
herd. Changes in the milking periods
and in the rate of milking; change of
mixers and change of environment,
and any circumstances which may ex-
cite the COW should be avoided. Feed
ut regula" intervals as far as possible.
This is an important factor in the feed
ing of all animals and should not be
| overlooked.
| The question of watering has been q
topic of much discussion both as to
frequency and temperature. The
practice followed at the college is to
| turn the COWS out about O'Clock in
| the morning after eating the morning
ration, and letting them remain out for
an hour or so, depending on the cOndi-
ton Of the weather. During this time
the stables are cleaned and the cows
have ample time for drinking.
If the watering trough is not pro-
| viGed with Il cover which may be let
down at night 70 prevent the fOrna-
| ton OF thick ice. it is well to have a
heater for the trough to take the chill
from the water.