Show MINERALS NEEDED FOR DAIRY COWS scrubs do not hurt themselves from lack of minerals but good cows do they cannot get enough in their feed that Is why it la Is necessary to turn torn them dry for six or eight weeks says john M shaw of the akwa experiment peri ment station although we have developed our dairy cows to be high producers we have not developed their ability to assimilate I 1 simi late the minerals necessary to keep up with a big milk flow here are the minerals shaw says saya are most likely to be lacking first are sodium and chlor chlorine lne common salt which every dairyman gives his cows A block of salt or loose salt where the cows can get it when they want it will take care of this mineral iodine in the ration in sections vv where here goiter or big neck in calves and hairlessness in pigs Is common helps to prevent this calcium or lime aline Is a mineral often lacking in a ration alfalfa soy bean and other legume hay bay Is the best beat source another good reason for growing legumes on the dairy farm cows on a ration of timothy or mixed hay and grains will lose more lime iline from their bodies than will those fed alfalfa hay bay grains and their hages are low in lime phosphorus Is less likely to be lacking in rations that have plenty of protein whether in the form of linseed I 1 oil meal cottonseed meal or legume hay bone meal Is a mineral source of phosphorus as well as calel calcium um A good balanced ration and salt will meet the mineral needs of most cows for the high producers it may be a good plan to add some mineral to the ration it if the cows are getting plenty of alfalfa or other legume hay bay salt mb whenever enever they want it a six or eight weeks dry period to build up their system supply the necessary minerals in such form as bone meal says the iowa experiment station but do not expect minerals of any sort to prevent or cure infectious Infect lou or contagious abortion |