Belt Valley times. [volume] (Armington, Mont.) 1894-1977, 1922-06-29
Montana
THIRD ARTICLE

AS stated IN a previous article, the
dairy COW should be considered as Q
high class machine, used for the pur.
pose of turning feeds into milk pro
ducts. In order to do this econom-
ically and profitably, it has been deter.
mined that the cow must be fed feeds
containing definite amounts of certain
food elements. The feeds containing
these must also be appetizing, and be
combined, so as to have the proper
effect upon the cows digestive sys-
tenn.
Not all Feed Have the Same Effect
It has been learned by careful OBJ
~servation that it would be possible to
combine feeds so as to have a ration
containing the proper amounts of food
nutrients, and still this ration would
not produce the desired results.
Certain feeds are constipating in their
effect, while others are loosening, and
also certain feeds are more appetizing
than others. Hence, in order TO pro-
perly combine a ration it is necessary
to have all these facts in mind.
Loosening Feeds
Green grass, alfalfa hay, ensilage,
roots, bran, linseed meal, gluten corn.
Constipating Feeds
Dry grass, corr fodder, corn stalks,
prairie hay, timothy hay, corn Tin light
feeds), c%ottonseed meal.
The above list of feeds does not con-
tain all that are available, but those
not mentioned may be considered
rather neutral in their effect.
In combining the ration for the
dairy COW, not all of any feed is di-
gestible. The amount varies very
greatly with the different feeds. Il
has also been learned that the animals
body and milk contain definite
amounts of the same elements that are
contained in the feeds. Hence it is
reasonable to suppose that in order to
produce growth or milk, it would be
necessary to supply the feeds that con-
tain these elements, about in the pro-
portion that they are used by the ami
NAL.
Careful investigation shows that a
dairy COW Weighing 1000 pounds, and
the average flow of milk,
should have a ration that would supply
about the amount of these elements
that would be used in the production
of this amount of milk. The tables
in Farmers Bulletin No. % of the
United States Department of Agri-
culture, which every dairyman should
have. gives the digestible amounts Of
elements-Protein, carbohy-
irates and fats@contained in the COM
mon feeds, and it has been learned
very close attention should be
paid to combining feeds so rs to sup
ply these as needed. These tables
the digestible nutrients in the
different feeds that are available
should be carefully studied.
The tables give the digestible nutri-
ents per hundred pounds of feed. A
cow weighing 1000 pounds should
nave 2h pounds of protein, the blood,
muscle and tissue building MATERIAL
I2h pounds of carbohydrates and GA
of fat. The two later supply
he body with heat and fat.
In order to secure these substances
N this relation it will be necessary to
select feeds according to the amounts
If these elements they contain. BY
referring to the table in Farmers Bull
No. %, it will be seer that there
IS no feed, excepting mixed pasture
grasses, which ONE very close to the
requirements. This emphasizes the
fact that there is no feed that will
milk more abundantly than
rood mixed pasture grasses, when
hey are in their best condition in the
In order to secure the same
with other feeds it is necessary
o combine them, making a part of the
from the grains or other feeds
-ich in protein, and filling out the
.ation with other feeds that are high
n carbohydrates and fats.
While a ration composed of feeds :
'ich in protein may produce very good I,
there will be a waste, and it /,
will be noticed that such feeds are !
high in price. There is also danger !
# overstimulating the milk glands !
md causing garget. Feeds that are !
Ugh in carbohydrates and fats a~reless I.
expensive, but as the carbohydrates !
md fats cannot take the place of pro- !
elm in the ration, the best results for :
MILK production cannot be expected, '
( they are fed in larger amounts than {
Iecessary. /.
Feed What Is Grown y
AS a general rule the feeds that are O
.rown on the farm will be fed to the
milk cows, very often regardless Of q
esults. While it is very desirable to v
TOW such feeds as are needed on the I
attention should be paid TO the a
of those which will give the {
est results. If alfalfa and CORN, n
nth some oats or barley are svail-4e
bic, it is possible to combine these in o
UGH a way as to get very satisfactory e
Il
The question of having a proper Il
ombination of feeds is so importanta
nat every effort should be made to {,
row that which is needed. and then
eed 1t. However, if the feeds are Ii
OF available for combining in such a N
+ay as to secure proper results, in II
lany cases it would be advisable TO a
NY some additional feeds such as
oil meal or alfalfa hay. 3.