The Clio messenger. (Clio, Mich.) 1907-current, 1918-11-08

less individuals are parasitic on the
profits of their more industrious mates.
Where such conditions exist 1t Is of
paramount Importance that the farmer
locate and dispose of the poor cows
while he should feed the remainder
according to production In order that
the income over cost Of feed may be
increased.
Do Not Waste Grain.
Much grain Is wasted by feeding It
to cows that do not respond to better
feed. The scoop shovel method OF
feeding all cows Is worthy of vigOr-
Gus condemnation. A study of cow
testing association records demon
strates that good cows should always
be fed well. Grain is never so high
priced that it is not profitable to feed
it to high-prOducing cows, the price OF
market milk and other conditions be-
ing equal. On the other hand, grain
is never so cheap that 1t can be fed
to low producers without much waste
and loss.
Two large herds in a certain cow
testing association were fed alike, both
being supplied with comparatively
high grain ration. One herd responded
to the liberal feeding while the other
did not. The average income per anil
NAL over cost of feed for the first herd
was $75 while for the second herd 1t
was only Ga cents. These results strik-
ingly demonstrate the value of high
producing cows which are well fed
according to production. The low
producing herd was fed high grain
ration regardless Of milk yield and
as consequence much valuable grain
was wasted. Present conditions de-
mand that all such wastes should be
eliminated by the retention Of none
but high-produc.ng cows In the herd.
Feed According to Production.
A careful tabulation Of the feed rec
ords of another contrasting association
in which milk production and income
over cost of feed were high, reveals
the fact that the cows were literally
but economically fed. Silage and le-
guminous hay constituted the rough
age portion of the ration while the
grain was fed according to known pro-
duction Of butterfat. During the win
ter these cows received one pound OF
grain daily for each pound Of butterfat
which they produced week, while
during the summer when pasture was
short some supplementary grain was
also provided. During cold weather
the cows consumed an average Of 80
pounds Of silage a day, while during
the summer pasturage periods each
COW received total Of 676 pounds OF
soiling crops. Generous milk flow and
a high butterfat test were the results
Of this liberal feeding. The average
butterfat production Of all the cows
on test in that association was 300
pounds and the average income over
cost of feed was $50 year. BY the
more liberal use Of soiling crops and
silage the cost of production could
even have been lowered.
1t is not only the patriotic duty Of
every dairy farmer to make the most
Of his grain but 1t Is also more money
in his pocket where he feeds his cows
according to production and capacity.
In England the laws now limit the
amount of grain which can be fed to
dairy cows and other classes of live
stock, and similarly in this country
patriotic common sense and public
opinion should combine in effecting the
same end without actual recourse to
legal assistance. This means that ev-
cry pound Of dairy feed should be
devoted to the intensive production Of
milk. Keep good cows and feed them
well.