The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1912-02-13
FEEDING DAIRY CATTLE.
Qualities the Ration Should Possess
Giving Feed Literally.

There is as much science involved in
feeding as in breeding. The best ration
is the one that will make the COW
produce the most at the least cost. 1t
will vary with the COW. One of the es-
sential things we need in food is protein.
Protein is that part which forms the
protoplasmic portion of the cell. The
organic part of the bones, muscles, ten
dons, internal organs, skin, etc, of the
bodies of animals are formed from the
protein constituents of our different
feeds. This protein cannot be obtained
from any other source except from pro-
tein in the feed, says G. w. Patterson
in Farm, Stock and Home.
Carbohydrates is that constituent of
feeds which goes to produce fat and
heat. Some of it is used up in the
performance Of work. A large amount
is used in keeping the body warm. Fats
arc used by the animal body to do sim
liar to that done by the carbohydrates.
An ideal ration must be succulent, high
ly digestible palatable, bulky and suit
able to the needs of the animal. 1t
must also be economical. BY succulency
we mean that it contains a large amount
of water. Milk contains about 81 per
cent. water It il the succulence of
grass which makes it such a good feed.
Sueculence helps TO keep the digestive
organs in good condition and contributes
to the health of all the different organs
of the body. The rations must be high
" digestible. If the feed which we
give a COW is not digested It does no
good. 1t is that part of the feed which
is used in producing milk that makes
the profit in the dairy business. Again,
il is not good policy to use up the en-
ergy Of the COW by passing large guam
titles of feed through her which are
not used in making dairy products. In
buying concentrated feeds. as oil meal,
bran, cottonseed meal and gluten feed,
we often hear sellers talk about the
percentage composition of protein. We
do not care so much about this. 1t is
the percentage of digcstible nutrients
that we are most interested in. Bulky
foods are /. in effect, laxative, and aid
the stomach and intestines in mixing
the digestive juices with the feeding
nutrients.
Many people ask the question, rs it
economy to allow the COW to grind her
own feed or to grind it for her." Many
experiments have been carried out along
this line and it is the consensus of opin
ion that it pays to grind the feed. With
some cows if the feed is given in an
ungromd condition there is waste due
to the undigested portions which pass
through the animal. Grinding causes a
more rapid and more thorough d.
gestion 1t has been found that corn
and cob meal. as a food for cows, is
equal pound for pound to corn meal.
1t is thus economy to grind the grain
as it gives more pounds OF feed. Oats |
should always be ground.
A ration must be palatable. Unless |
a COW likes her feed she will not eat |
it with relish. She must like her food |
in order to produce butter fat economi-
cally. A food that plesses the taste !
a greater flow of the diges-
tive juices.
Some people are of the opinion that |
if they skimp on the feed they save in
expense. They save on expense all right, |
but they also shave off the bulk of the |
income Their theory always fzzles out |
in practice. If man skimps on the |
feed, the COWS in turn skimp in pro-
duction The man is the loser. But
ter fat is the highest in price. Sixty
per cent. of the cows feed goes to main
tair her body. 1t is the next 40 per
cent. that is used in the production of
milk. 1t is always the first part of
the feed that the COW uses in keeping
herself. 1t is the last part that she
uses to keep the family and to pay
of the mortgage. Many cows are not
profitable because they get just this 60
per cent. They need the other 40.