Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1907-05-28
Feed for Cows in Dry Weather.

How about suitable feed for the dairy
herd the coming summer F0rehanded
dairymen do not take any chances on the
weather, and provide for possible cur
tailment of pasturage that may follow q
drouth. Any one OF several good forage
crops can be sown which will aid ma
terially in keeping the milk flow normal
throughout the season even though the
weather is dry. It is none too early to
plan for these crops, and, in fact, some
of them should have been planted be-
fore this for best results. The accom-
panying notes from representative New
England dairymen in this connection
will be of interest:
NV experience on Highland farm,is to
have plenty of sowed corn cut fresh
every day after pastures fail. This is
the best-arrangement that can be made,
in my opinion. We SOW this near the
pasture fence where 1t Is handy to cut
and throw over to the cows each after
noon. In addition to plenty of corn we
raise beets, turnips and carrots to feed
in the winter. We also find millet
profitable crop to raise for cows that are
giving milk. We cure 1t like hay and
feed dry In the winter. We sowed one
acre of alfalfa this spring and hope tn
make It thrive iu Maine.-Rev. Z. F.
Pember, Penobscot County, Ne.
For a supplemental pasture my plan is
to make use of winter rye and oats cut
green, and oats and peas; also corn fod-
der, clover, sweet corn and barley. We
feed dry hay every day of the year..
A. Roberts, Highland Dairy Farm, OK
ford County, Me.
The best thing to plant this spring to
aid the dairy in case of drOuth is a
crop of corn to put 10 the silo. This
will help in the season of 1908 and l
think the wide.awake dairyman has al
ready prepared for this summers short
age by having the silos we'll filled last
fall. For a farmer who is not already
provided with a silo, l would say plant
corn to be cut, and feed green.-G. +.
Douglas, Hartford County, Ct.
The best feed for dairy COWS in July
and August is oats and peas followed In
September by sweet corn.-E. j. Fletch-
or, Hilsboro County, N. q.
Personally, l have been fortunate
enough to have had but little expert
ence in short pasturage for dairy COWS.
II one is situated so he can practically
soil feed, nothing can be found better
than corn fodder and little grain. I'm.
less you are prepared to do this, you
should avoid any feed which will, take
from the COW an appetite to grub for all
the pastures afford. AS rule, a fresh feed
to insure them holding their own can be
best attained by use of provender or
feed of good hays. NJ. King, Oxford
County, Me. :.
have built the past year a new sllo OF
small size for summer feed and grow a
good supply of oats and peas, but do
not feed green, though | think they
would do nicely in that condition
Walter N. Foster, Hartford County, CT.
There is no doubt but corn is the best
crop that can be raised for green fodder
when the pastures get short. Even
green Sweet, or Sanford, is the best. l
prefer the latter for this northern Sec
ton, because it is little harder and
easier to start. Oats and peas come a
little earlier and help out before We can
cut the corn, but for the main crop stick
to corn. II grain is to be fed be sure to
nave COCUOusctu lucdi III tuC ouh'hSA 40
ton. There are some farmers In this
section who feed cottonseed meal
through the entire summer and who say
their cows will eat it when they will re-
fuse any other grain ration. For my
part prefer that there should be some
bran in the feed. mix half and half by
weight.-F. l.. Smith, Franklin County,
vt.
The best green feeds for cows | have
ever found are peas and oats sowed at the
rate of two bushels oats and one bushel
Canada peas to the acre. Japanese mil
let Is to 20 pounds to the acre is also
good. Sow the millet the same time the
oats and peas are put out. Then by the
time the last named are going by, the
millet will be in its prime. II you want
some green feed early, SOW spring rye,
two bushels to the acre, on good ground.
This is not the best kind of feed for
cows but will help out before the peas
and oats come. MilIet will do to feed
green for two or three weeks II sowed
thick and on good land.-H. G. Bruce,
ex. president Vermont Dairymen's Asso-
citation, Hillsboro County, N. 81.