The river press., 1913-03-05
Feeding for Milk.
BY =. S. COOLEY, Superin.
tcEdert Montana Farmers
Institutes.

Institutes.
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1t must be remembered that, no
matter how good the COWS, they will
not yield profit in the dairy unless
we'll fed. Montana appears to be
especially favored in the nutritious
quality of her forage plants. Native
and cultivated grasses, clovers, and
particularly alfalfa, are unsurpassed
in nutritive properties by forage
plants Of any part of the country. In.
deed, the protein content of all these
plants appears to be the highest
known.
This abundance of protein in the
folders of the state has an important
bearing upon the combination of ra-
tions, and obviates the need, so strong
ly felt in other parts of the country,
of supplementing the home grown for.
age with concentrates rich in protein.
Two practical points in feeding dairy
cows need to be emphasized-a lib
eral food supply and a reasonably
concentrated ration.
It should be realized that the cow
in full milk is using up a large supply
of energy. A COW giving forty pounds
of milk containing 4 per cent of but
terfat in day is producing the equiv
alent Of ten pounds of flesh in a grow
ing steer. This is not created, but only
elaborated from the natural raw mate
rials, which are the food consumed
or the reserve tissues stored up in
her body. If the latter, the supply
cannot long continue. If the former,
liberal feeding Is essential
It takes a certain amount of nutri-
tive material to sustain the vital
processes of the body. This is little
more with an animal in high than one
in low condition. Milk secretion is
only secured by food in excess of that
needed to repair normal wastes. To
produce forty pounds of milk daily re.
quires, therefore, at least the digesti-
BILE nutrients therein contained above
the amount used to maintain the ami
NAL.
1t would require about the equiva-
lent of twenty pounds of good alfalfa
hay to produce the forty pounds of
milk, and probably twelve to fifteen
pounds more to maintain COW in
good condition. The provision of
thirty odd pounds of first class forage
daily during the lactation period to
cows in milk is something to which
the average Montana dairyman has
yet to become accustomed.
While the quality of Montana for.
age is SO good, particularly in respect
to the high protein content, as to
largely obviate the need Of heterogeneous
concentrates, there is yet need for q
certain amount of concentrated food
material even in this state. The ap-
parent reason for this is to reduce
the bulk of ration with the neces-
sary nutrients to the compass of the
cows capacity. Alfalfa hay furnishes
all the necessary nutrients in good
proportion, but to require COWS to
milk heavily on it alone is unreason-
able because of it's loose, bulky nature.
Some concentrated material must be
used for the best results to get the
bulk down to the capacity of the
animal
1t takes less concentrated fodder
here than in most sections of the
country to produce equally good re-
suits. Probably not over half the
grain is needed in our feeding scheme
that is advisable in the Mississippi
valley ard east. From four to eight
pounds of grain, with an average OF
about five pounds per cow daily,
should be found most profitable. This
estimate is confirmed by feeding trials
at the experiment station at Bozeman.
and the experience of private dairy
men.
AS to the kind of concentrates to
feed, less protein is required than in
the East. The starchy grains are al
good. Barley. oats, wheat and rye
are suitable and better mixed than
when fed separately. The market
price is determining factor, and gen
orally those grains of less value for
brewing or milling are more available
for feeding. White hulless barley,
oats, frosted wheat and grain not
readily marketa BILE at a remunerative
price are in the main worth just as
much for feeding as anything. A
mixture of one-half barley and one
fourth each wheat and oats ground
together is recommended.
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