OATS FOR COW FEEDING.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1197, 4 August 1911, Page 8

OATS FOR COW FEEDING.

At n' recent conference of' agricultural ehemisfs , in the United Kingdovi for- tlio discussion of, various cnttle foods from a scientific point of view it was argued that "oats undoubtedly r constitutrd tho. best form of grain for feeding to dairy cattle, find inaflp at the same time one of Ihe most useful concentrated foods at the dairy farmer's disposal. Oats certainly stimulated tho (low of mill; to a very appreciable extent, and, besides being oxtremoly wholesome, tlicy were held'in much favour where' butter■ was produced. Crushed oats weru incluilod in most standard dairy cow's rations. In this form they were exceedingly digestible. ".As , regards the feecline of whole grains to cows, hoifers, and calves, some American experiments show that when whole grains are- fed to cows 22.75 per cent, passes through them unmasticated; when fed to heifers, 10.77 per cent., and when fed to calves, 6.26 per cent. When whole oats are fed to cows'HOG passes through unmasticated; whoii fed to heifers J>!-13 per cent., and when fed to calves 2.98 per cent. ' The results of these experiments showed two things—first, whofc grain fed' to cows and heifers is a -very wasteful practice j and, secondly, the younger tho animals the more capable they nre of masticating the grain. It would take a'good'deal to convince some dairymen that oats are better than maize for cow-feeding, even if the grain Was as cheap, weight for weight." •'