The Butler weekly times. (Butler, Mo.) 1881-1918, 1912-02-01
TESTING O,IRY ANIMALS
WHAT MAKES THE DIFFERENCE
IN cows.
Food Consumed and Utilized Is
Index to Milk Production.

! When one COW produces twice or
three times as much milk in a year as
does another, with the same opportu-
mites, the question arises as to just
what is the difference in the two ami.
mails that makes one produce better
In this problem is tied up great deal
| OF the success or failure of dairying.
An extensive experiment under the
direction of Professor G.. H. Eckles
OF the Dairy Department at the Uni.
| versity OF Missouri, has practically
solved the problem as far as men are
able to 60. Four COWS were carefully
fed on analysed feeds, and q record OF
the exact amounts eaten was kept.
The amount OF milk from each cow
was weighed and analysed. The ex
creta from the cows was also ana
lyzed to determine whether or not
there was waste in digestion. Much
interesting data was accumulated, and
Professor Eckles gives out some con-
illusions on the differences in tie mer.
it's of cows
a certain amount of feed. it is
found, is required 10 maintain the
body processes and supply energy for
the work of simply keeping alive. In
two cows which produced widely diff
ferent amounts of milk it was found
that the maintenance requirements |
were practically the same. So that
could not be the reason for the diff
ference.
There is always some waste in di-
sestion. but the analyses showed lit
tie difference at this Point.
Many details were tried out and ex-
amined, and it was found that there
was practically direct relation be-
tween the amount OF milk given and
the amount of feed eaten above the
maintenance requirement..
The requirement of good COW,
therefore, is that she De able to eat
a large quantity of food and convert
il INTO milk The amount required
to keep her alive will be about the
same. whether she gives milk or not.
lAlt if she is not able to eat much
essary, she has little hope as a milk
producer,
In a new COW, this capacity for feed
can be guessed at by the size and
shape of her barrel" 1t is always
large and roomy in a good COW, indi- {
eating plenty of space for storage of ,
food. A strong appetite and a rug
eeG constitution are essentials for the
high producing COW.
Beyond being able to tell which
knowing that it is because of SUI
perior capacity for feed, man has not
Teen able to go. Why one COW has
this capacity, while another OF as
good breeding sometimes fails, no
one can yet tell. At present the best
the farmer aud dairyman can do is c
20 pick the COW that is doing or will !
DO the work, keep record of all, and =
throw out the poor ones, and let the J.
question of why they Go it remain T
Tor the future. +
Every COW is enough chemist to b
show whether or not she is receiving i,
4 proper ration, Corn fodder has its :
Jlace, but usually it is not good feed u
or high-producing dairy cows. Glover II
md alfalfa hay, or cowpea hay, are c
almost the first things to think of II
when planning to feed dairy COW.
She gives OFF large amount of pure
protein in her milk, ana she must
ave large amount in her feed or :
he will either waste away in flesh
n slow up on the milk. 1t pays bet
er 10 give trer-t11e- feed she needs.