The Ordway new era., 1918-11-29


to produce as much income over cost
of feed as was produced by the aver
age COW of the last group.
A common fault which exists among
many dairymen who are unfamiliar
with the value of cow-testing work is
that they fail to feed grain to their
dry cows while many of them do not
even feed balanced ration to the
best of their cows. When grain is
fed It is dished up with Il scoop shovel
and nll the cows are fed alike regard
less of production. Under such
method of management good cows are
underfed while comparatively worth
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 1t
TO cows that do not respond to better
feed. The scoop shovel method of
feeding all cows is worthy of vlgor-
Gus condemnation. A study of cow
testing association records demon
strItes that good cows should always
be fed well. Grain is never so high
priced that 1t 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 certain COW.
testing association were fed alike. both
being supplied with n 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 S75 while for the second herd II
was only 64 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 n 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 mono
but high-produc!ng cows In the herd.
Feed According to Production.
A careful tabulation of the feed rec
ords of another cow-testing 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-
gumlnous hay constituted the rough
age portion of the ration while the
grain was fed according to known pro-
duction of butterfnt. During the win
ter these cows received one pound of
grain daily for ench pound of butterfat
which they produced a week. while
during the summer when pasture was
short some supplementary grain was
also provided. During cold weather
the cows consumed an average of 33
pounds of silage day. while during
the summer pasturage periods each
COW received total of 676 pounds of
soiling crops. Generous milk flow and
n high butterfat test were the results
of this liberal feeding. The average
butterfat production of all the cows
on test in that association was 296
pounds and the. average income over
cost of feed was $3.50 n year.
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.