Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1906-03-13

Il
No rigid rule can be laid down or
followed in feeding cows in winter for
the profitable production OF milk.
Hardly any half dozen animals in the
herd should be fed alike. They are
likely to be in different periods OF their
milking season, some giving full flow
and others all the way down to dry.
The successful COW feeder knows every
animal, studies their habits, their likes
and dislikes, and watches not only what
goes in at the mouth, but what Is made
of the feed by way of the milk pail, the
cows condition as to aeshiness, and
waste. The good COW feeder Is stu
dent, . scientist and an artist. He 10 on
hand when feeding time comes, no mat
ter how pressing other farm work may
be; and as near as possible he should do
the feeding at every meal and all the
in his treatment of the stock or be has
no interest for the business, he had bet
ter work at some other trade.
On our farm the COWS are fed at A.
N. They each receive - to 10 pounds
of eusilsge, Q to pounds bran and to
l Ia pounds of gluten meal. This is
the morning feed, and the quantity is so
distributed, according to the different
requirement of each, that all is eaten.
From O'Clock to II, If the weather is
comfortable, they are turned out to
water from flowing spring short dis
tance from the farm. The cattle are all
pure bred stock and are kept for breeding
as we'll as for dairy purposes. For this
season it is believed that some exercise
| in the open air is beneficial. The tenn
perature of the spring water Is 4S. If
the watering were done at tank 1t
would be warmed to so or 55.
When the day is stormy or cold the
watering is done in the barn with water
that is always on tap in stable. There
is no patent watering device in the
stable. On account of the cows receiv-
ing two feeds of ensilage, they are turn
cd out to water but once day, which
seems to be sufficient, but the heavy
mixers drink some water in the after
noon from a pail. While the COWS are
out, the stable is cleaned and bedded
and six to eight pounds of clover hay
put in each manger. This is the midday
| feed. The cows remain out only as long
as they enjoy themselves, and whenever
they show a wish to come in the door Is
opened.
During the afternoon they are cleaned
and brushed, spending most of the time
living down on a generous straw bed,
Illuminating in the sunshine, which comes
in through the twelve windows in the
south side of the stable. At 4:30 they
are fed about the same as in the
morning.
The clover hay is the best that can be
made, cut early, cured in the cock,
using hay caps If necessary. This hay
is not the ripened, sun-dried and bleach
cd stuff, but if the hay is not No. or is
very coarse, more of 1t is fed, and what
of the coarser part is left is all cleaned
out and fed to horses or stock other
than cows giving milk. If there is a
failure of the clover crop, Red and
Alske mixed, pea and oat hay is good
substitute, Alfalfa Is better than either.
During the seventeen years we have
fed silage, We have not fed pumpkins,
cabbage or roots to cows. Ensilage is
the best and cheapest succulent feed for
making winter milk, and a good deal of
summer milk as well. The cost Of pro-
ducing ensilage on land worth s75 to
500 per acre is estimated at Sl.50 to 81
per ton. At the latter price 80 pounds
is worth three cents, five pounds wheat
bran costs four cents, three pounds
gluten feed three cents, six or eight
pounds of clover hay about two cents.
Total cost of the average daily feed
twelve cents. This is fairly balanced
ration and has considerable variety.
However the variety might be increased
with good results.
The ensilage is made of well-earued
and ripened dent corn, and we like to
have enough of it to feed 365 days in the
year.-Geo. c. Hill in Farmers Review.