Show EFFICIENT FEEDING Atao LIVESToCK MANAGEMENT II By Dr Gustav u lav foi Emeritus Professor of Animal husbandry University of Wisconsin Heavy Grain For Cows Be OK But There is no question that the present trend toward heavy grain or even all concentrate rations ra- ra rations for cattle is in part due to the relatively low cost of farm rain grain compared to hay or other othel forage This is especially true bue when both are purchased Also it has been found that heavy milking cows can utilize surprisingly lar and proper proper- t i proportions of grain x in relation to forage Basically a however for for- forages for ages of the right kind are cheaper con con con- both yields and nu- nu Dr Bohstedt values valus And low cost grain may be temporary An amazing statement was made to me some time ago by Georgia Experiment Station workers who said that Guern Guern- Guernsey soy sey cows getting no grain main main- maintained maintained their live weights and produced 60 pounds of milk daily for two winter months while grazing on adapted grasses and cereals To be sure the pasture had excellent attention climate and absence of flies and the like to favor good production Just the same the record showed what good forage can do and do cheaply perhaps also health health- healthfully fully As compared with heavy grain problem feeding the ketosis hem lem would not seem to be as prevalent for high body condi condi- condition tion especially at calving time has hus been associated with a ten ten ten- dency clency tendency toward ketosis It is known that a high grain grain- low roughage ration lowers the fat percentage of the milk seemingly because of ofa a chan change e ein in the nature of the rumen or- or organic organic ganic acids Somehow heavy grain or all concentrate rations seem better adapted for fattening beef cat cat- cattie tie tle because they favor the pro pro- production of body fat but not milk fat Perhaps in the long run a thatis happy compromise i is best that is to increase the grain or con con- concentrate concentrate part of the ration as returns indicate it to be profit profit- profitable able But be mindful of the tho con con- consequences consequences sequences of going overboard in inthis inthis this respect We know a lot more about nutritional requirements now now- nowadays then we did years ago and bedone many things can safely be done now that would have been unwise and even ruinous years ago afro It is still true however that quality forage in whatever amounts it may be used is the key to successful livestock pro pro- production Question I have heard that a recent recommendation states that the salt requirement of chickens k is s st 7 percent Does t tk this mean t that t this ici is all Ith the salt that should be included in ina ina a poultry mash A r The salt requirement of poultry differs depending largely on the fiber content of the diet Thus the Ontario Can Can- Canada ads ada College of Agriculture found that when low high fiber energy diets dieta were used percent of added salt sait proved adequate but with high fiber fiber- low energy diets the optimal salt level was not less than 2 percent |