Show GOOD FEED FOR DAIRY COWS abundance of pasture graw grass Is I 1 bert beat where available some grain often needed A dairy cow will respond to good feeding and good treatment perhaps per liapi better than any other farm animal each individual dairy cow should be a unit by herself ber self unlike other farm animals dairy cows cannot be efficiently fed in a feed lot as the re quire ments tor for each cow may be different the best feed for dairy cows Is an abundance of pasture grass when that la in available A good pasture provides a balan balanced cei ration some high producing cows will require a little grain as a supplement to pasture during the time of the year when a good pasture Is not available a cow can be fed efficiently by providing 1 an abundance of palatable feed 2 a balanced ration 8 succulent feed 4 a moderate temperature in barn 5 comfortable surroundings A datry dairy cow Is fed for the following purposes 1 for maintaining the body 2 to supply material tor for milk 8 for development of fetus 4 tor for growth of aril animal mal it if immature 5 at times to produce gain in weight three general classes of good material are required tor for feeding cows 1 protein or nitrogenous material w 2 carbohydrates and fat to supply heat beat and energy 8 3 ash or mineral matter A well balanced dairy ration radon will contain the above food material in the proper proportions in making up a feed for dairy cows it Is usually most convenient to balance the roughage and concentrates separately and then feed all the roughage each cow will eat and adjust the grain mixture to the amount of milk or butterfat produced by the cow A good general rule to use as a guide in feeding la Is to feed from on one fourth to one halt half as ag much of a balanced grain mixture per day as the cow gives milk per day cows bowa giving rich milk usually give less per day but need a little more grain in proportion to the milk A G baer professor of dairying oklahoma A and M college |