FARMERS’ COLUMN.

Taihape Daily Times, Volume 7, Issue 119, 21 January 1915, Page 7

FARMERS’ COLUMN.

I' FEEDING DAIRY CATTLE, i ' i i t : j The following discussion on feeding j j the dairy eow is abstracted from a | bulletin from the .lowa loxpwim«ar. Station by Prof. 11. It. Kildee: The proper time to begin feeding a cow for milk production is six to S weeks prior to freshing. She should Imre .at least this length of time to rest and prepare for next lactation period. The feeds given at this time should meet the following requirements: Rest and cool out the digestive tract, surely nourishment lui tho cf Jie foetus or unborn calf, n " 1 and build up the flesh and strength at the tow hersoll. For ’'the cows that are to freshen during the summer or early fall it Is a good plan to have a small pasture set aside so that they may have abundance of pasture grass and not be molested’, by the other cows. In addition to this a few pounds of ground cuts and in some cases a small quantity of bran will be sufficient. Cows that arc to freshen during the winter should receive from 20 to 25 pounds o< maize silage, all the clover or lucerne hay "they desire, and a grain mixture cf three parts ground oats, two parts bran, and one part oil meal. The amount cf grain per day is to be governed by the individual animal. Animals thin in flash may be given a small quantity of maize, but should nor be crowded, but rather fleshed up gradually. Too large a quantity of maize is likely to have a bad ellect, open the system. It is well to reduce the ratio.ii slightly just prior tr 1 calving, as by so doing the danger cf milk fever and after calving troubles is decreased to some extent. j\ few days bIV.ro calving put tho cow in a clean, disinfected, well bedded box stall. If her bowels are no I moving freely, a dose of ” to 1 pound ; f .Voscm salts or one quart of raw linseed oil will prove very beneficial. grain ration of two parts bran and a pari oil moal is very good at llus time. For a few days after calving the few’s drinking' water should be hikewarm. In addition to lucerne or clover hay and a small quantity of silage, she should be fed bran mashes cr a •mall allowance of bran, oil meal and ground cats. If the ctw does net | pass the afterbirth promptly, and the •nan in charge dees not understand the anatomy cf the reproductive or grins, a competent veterinarian be called: that sh'nkl he done also | when the cr"- has difficulty in calving. THIRTY h .iS AFTER CALVING, i If the cow ,-as been properly cared j for the first three days she may then j be placed on dry and more solid ioou. I The manner in wheih she is fed during the next thirty days determines largely the character cf the work she will do during her lactation period. Experienced feeders of beef cattle realize that thirty days are required to get steers on full feed, and likewise the 1 ;iry cow needs to he given thirty days. Without doubt parturition weak, ens the digestive apparatus and heavy feeding seen after calving is liable to bo followed by indigstion, bloat or impaction. During the first thirty days after parturition the maternal instinct is tit Its highest pitch and during this time, if properly cared for, 1 the cow can he brought to her greatest possible milk flow, To do this, the feeds must he suited to the individual cow’s needs. Beginning on the fourth day with five pounds of grain daily, the ration should be increased slowly say at the rate of one-half pound each alter* nale day This rate of increase is vapid enough, for the cow will respond as well to a half pound increase as she will to a pound. This increase may continue just, as long as the cow continues to increase profitably in her milk flow. When she ceases to respond, then the feed should be lessened in the same gradual manner for a few days, and it will, as a rule, be noted that the cow will further increase in milk flow. The feed given on the day she begins to decline in milk determines practically 'the amount of grain she should receive. ■ Much less than this amount will not compel her best work and any additional feed will be worse than wasted. The exact amount and quality of the food will be determined by the condition and individuality cf the cows. Seldom do two cows demand to be fed in exactly the same way. Cows inclined toward be.e.Cness kjequire a \ narrow ration, or one containing a proI pertknatcly large amount of protein; cows of the strictly dairy type, inclined to work hard and become thin' in flesh, need to be fed more exten- 1 sively of foods rich in carbohydrates. Cows cf large capacity, and thh ability to produce large volumes of milk require more than cows with less capacity and ability. """ '