The Lynden tribune. [volume] (Lynden, Wash.) 1908-current, 1914-07-23
Feed Supply in
Dry Weather.

(By H. L. Blanchard, Assistant Super
intendent Western Washington Ex
pertinent Station.)
The writer has had the experience
Of fifty per cent drop in the milk
yield of his herd in period Of less
than two weeks during the last OF
July and first of August. Short pas
lures and flies were the cause. We
never forgot the lesson and we
thereby learned that economical
milk production requires cOntin-
uous supply of green feed for the
dairy herd in summer as well as in
winter. This was nearly twenty
years ago. TwO-thirds of the
meadow land was accordingly chang
ed to the growing of crops for
soiling and for ensilage. Roots
and kale were also planted. 1t was
soon demonstrated that each cow
should be provided with not less
than six or seven tons of succulent
feed of the various kinds annually.
The cow would then require from
one-half to two-thirds less hay and
the outlay for mill feeds could there
by be greatly reduced and the profits
from the dairy correspondingly in
creased.
The change of our system and
the production of an abundant sup
ply Of succulent feed was not diff
cult. The learning how to utilize
these feeds to the best advantage
was another matter At first with
some of these feeds, like green rye.
H.. Al slya %
much that the cows would not cat,
especially the butts and coarser
parts of the stalks, which Of course
was disappointing. We soon learn
ed that the cows were much like
human beings, in that their several
likes and dislikes for feed are not
the same. Their tastes may be
cultivated so they will relish such
feeds as are offered them. There
was q time when every cow in the
writer's herd would absolutely re-
ject green cOrnstalks, while later
every animal became ravenously
fond of the same. in all forms
green or dry.
When feeding for milk production
one cannot afford to have the cows
reject good feed, hence it is wise
to make all changes from one feed
to another very gradual, and intro
duce any new feed very sparingly
=, IirsL, and in combination with a
feed with which the cows are ac-
quainted and like. Cows have been
taught to eat corn stalks that they
had previously refused by chopping
the stalks into short lengths and
sprinkling over same little meal
and pinch of salt. They may be
taught to eat other feeds in sim
liar way. Cows that have been on
good pasture ought not to be per-
mnted to shrink in their milk
yield before offered either soiling
crops or ensilage. When one has
built a silo and filled same in June
with ensilage he is well equipped to
provide the dairy herd with sue
culent feed whenever needed. The
change from the pasture to soiling
crops or ensilage having been
gradually accomplished it will usual,
ly be found to be the better prac-
tice to exclude the cows from the
pasture for time until the feed
therein has freshened up from
fall rains. The cows will relish a
little we'll cured clover or alfalfa
with her succulent feed. When the
cows have been removed from the
pasture and when fed upon the
soiling crops, they should receive
but little at a time and that little
often. Train each animal to eat
up clean, the feed that is placed be-
fore her, and thereby discourage any
tendency to form wasteful habits.
Under such system the cows Will
consume larger quantities of feed
and produce more milk.
While there are many ways of
feeding soiling crops. such as
twice daily by scattering the feed
along the fence-rows or over the
field, filling the managers twice
daily during the milking periods,
etc, the practice that will give the
best results Is to cOnfine the milk
cows in the stable and feed a lit
tie at a time five times daily. The
feeding periods ought to be at reg
ular intervals and system devised
to dovetail into the general farm
ing operations, with as little dis
turbance as possible. Here the
dairyman can put to test his ability
to manage.
A good practice under this system
will be along the line of confining
the cows during the day time so
that they may be fed individually and
under conditions where flies VIII
not torment them, such as dark
ened stable. The herd may occupy
the covered barnyard or exercise lot
by night, where the cows can lie
down under clean and sanitary con-
ditions and can chew their cuds In
comfort.
For the extra provision and care
involved in caring for and feeding
the cows under this system, the
dairyman can expect to receive
compensation uneQualed by that
which he would receive for most any
4 other part of his work,