Show i DAIRY FA FACTS minerals are important in dairy cows ration minerals line rals form forin an important part of lie dairy rations rat lofts which cannot be neglected by the successful dairyman cc to the new york state col ge age of agriculture the college points ut nit abat of the tha dozen or more differ nt mt mineral elements which cows cowa neel need aly t to 0 o of them aside from those found in common salt are arc likely to tw be locking lacking in most rations these are calcium and phosphorus which form 00 per cent of the mineral matter of the body these elements preferably should be furnished in foods which contain them in abundance but it if ne necessary cry they may be obtained from corn commercial mer sources the concentrated foods such as wheat bran standard linseed meal and cottonseed meal are rich in phosphorus but low in calcium legumes on the other hand such ns as clover and alfalfa are high in calcium and low in phosphorus generally when the farmer must musi re sort to tho the minerals themselves chalk or finely ground limestone will prove a good source of calcium while phosphorus may be obtained in combination with calcium in bone meal ordinary hone bone meal may be used but the steamed product Is preferable able not only for her bodily needs but naso for millo milk production does the dairy cow need the minerals A continued deficiency of these Is likely to result in a falling off in milk and in body vigor and in reproduction troubles feeds high in calcium and phosphorus should be fed when therow the cow la Is dry as well as during production periods because during tile the dry period she stores up these elements to be used in part for making milk during the next Inc lactation tation |