The Virginia enterprise. [volume] (Virginia, St. Louis County, Minn.) 1893-19??, 1910-08-19


freshened she should be given q grain
ration consisting of foods which are
rich in protein, such as bran. oil meal,
cottonseed meal, gluten feed. alfalfa
hay, etc., with an additional amount
of corn silage that she will consume
together with some cornmeal which, Of
course, will cheaper the ration. Re-
eeiving this amount Of feed, tho milk
which she produces thereby should be
weighed to determine the amount of
milk that she will produce without be-
ing forced. This, Of course. can be de-
termined by the milk scales, which are
an invaluable adjuct In the dairy barn
or milkrocm at all times. After being
allowed to remain on this ration for
two days the feeder has determined
the quantity of milk given and should
then increase the ration one-half
pounl and allow her to remain on the
ration Of four and half pounds for
two days and again determine the
amount of milk produced by the COW
for the feed consumed. Now. II the
scales show that ther7 has been an
increase in the production of milk
sufficiently large to pay for the in
crease on the one-haif pound of grain
and profit thereon, then 1t is wholly
{ business consideration and the feed
er should assume further risk and in
crease the ration by another one-half
pound of grain. Then, with the COW
on ration of five pounds of grain q
day for two days. it is possible by the
continued weighing Of the milk to de-
termfDe whether or not this another
additional half pound Of grain has been
instrumental in increasing the milk
flow to such proportions that the sys-
TEN is profitable, and so the feeder
should continue increasing the ration
one-half pound every ether day just so
long as the COW continues to respond
with the increase in milk production
sufficiently large that if placed upon
the market at prevailing prices it
would gay for the increase in the
feed and profit on the investment.
Determining Amount # Feed Needed.
When by carefully giving an addi-
tionai tit of grain, the cow ceases to
respond, then one or two things may
be true; either the cow has reached
the limit of her ability to produce milk
or The character of the ration is not
suitable to her needs The proposi.
tion which confronts the feeder now
ts to change his ration in such a way
that If possible further efforts on the
part OF the cow may lie stimulated,
This can be done by substituting one
grain or feed for another. II the IA.
tion consists largely of corn. a portion
OF this feed may be taken away and
more bran or oilmeal added. On the
other hand, II the ration IL made IN
Of feeds Of more heterogeneous charac.
ter, the likelihood is that by substi.
tuttng for small amount Of them
more cornmeal. the COW will again be
eet to work. BY changing the ration
back and forth in this manner q time
or two, the cause for the lack Of re.
spouse on the Tart OF the COW may
either be remedied or the reason for
- AS"11 AAAASO. IL H. " CTUG IQdI SQ0
has reached the limit Of her ability to
produce milk. then OF is wholly un-
profitable to give her an additional
amount Of grain for all feed given her
In addition to that which she will con-
vert into milk must be remembered Is
wasted. A good dairy COW placed un.
der this system of management and
feeding will require in the neighbour
hood Of thirty days to come to the
limit Of the amount Of feed which
she can handle profltably. or in other
words. to the limit of the amount of
milk she has the ability Of producing.
At this time also she Is very close to
the limit Of her capacity or the amount
OF feed which she has the power Of
assimilating successfully. It is then
necessary for the feeder to decrease
her ration in the same gradual man.