Audubon Republican. [volume] (Audubon, Iowa) 1894-1925, 1906-01-25
Winter Feed Tor palrY Cows

Ideal combination for milk production.
The only drawback to producing milk
at this time Is that the price is too
low for the milk produced. Winter
milk will bring from 80 to rs per cent
more than summer milk. The cost or
production is also greater in winter
than In summer and unless care Is
taken In the selection and combina-
ton OF the winter feeds, the profits OF
winter feeding will not be as great as
those OF summer. After twenty years
OF winter dairying have found time
and time again that the nearer one
can come to summer conditions in the
winter, both in regard to the warmth
and purity Of the atmosphere and the
feeds given, the more milk the cows
will give.
For winter dairying the cows should
drop their calves between the middle
OF September and the first of Decem-
Der, the earlier the better. After the
nights become cold keep the cows in
the barn nights. This time between
summer and winter feeding is one OF
the most critical periods In the feed.
ing of the dairy COW that is to give
milk during the winter. II the after
growth on the meadows and grain
| fields has been abundant, we'll and
good. This, with liberal feed OF
corn-fodder or cane in the barn, will
make good ration at this time. II
the dairy cow has been neglected. as
she is apt to be at this time, when
the farmers are busy with their fall
work, it will be hard to make profit
able COW Of her during the winter.
For nineteen years l used q silo,
but for the last two seasons have not.
| did not discard 1t because I did not
like the feed, but because 1t was built
on the old style and too much feed
| spoiled In the corners and sides; and
as 1t was not convenient to build
new one, we have used dry feed for
the past two winters. In the selec-
| ton OF the winter feeds we must first
| consider the kinds and qualities of the
coarse feeds we have on hand, next
the grains we have grown and then
we will be in position to see what
mill feeds 1t will be best to buy.
This season we have an abundance
| OF clover hay and good corn and oats,
| so 1t will not be necessary to buy
| much mill feed. If we can get good
bran for less than $14 per ton or mid
lings for less than SIS we will feed
about one-third of the grain ration
or one or the other of these. At the
present time we are feeding our cows
as follows: In the morning immedi-
| ately after milking they are given a
feed of millet hay. Then after break
fast they are turned out in the yard
| to drink. The water is drawn into a
small tank from large reservoir that
holds about enough for three or four
days. While the cattle are drinking.
the hay that is left is taken away and
the hangers swept clean and then they
are given their grain ration, which
consists of mixture Of three parts
of corn cob meal, two parts of oatmeal
and two parts of bran by weight.
Each COW gets about four pounds of
this mixture at this time. When this
is eaten they are given feed of clover
hay, all they will eat with relish.
| They are then left in the barn until
noon on pleasant days and until one
o'clock on stormy or cold days. They
are now turned in the yard and al
lowed to drink as before. The stable
is now cleaned and the managers are
filed with fodder corn and the cattle
are turned in usually at three o'clock.
The fodder corn is eaten up in about
an hour and the hangers are cleaned
and they are given the same grain
feed as in the morning. The milking
is done at half-past five in the morn
ing and evening. After milking in the
evening they are given hay again. The
hay given at this time is either up
! land meadow or mixed clover and
timothy. l like to give them as large
variety of feeds as possible-W. +.
Stiles, Jefferson Co., Wis, in Farmers
Review.