COST OF FEED

While the difference in the average production of butter fat by groups 1 and 3 amounted to 190.2 pounds, or 56 per cent, calculated on the production of group 3, the cost of feed for the two groups increased only 20 per cent, and that of total number of feed units 18 per cent. The difference in net returns (the value of products above cost of feed), on the other hand, amounted to 108 per cent, and 100 feed units produced 31 to 32 per cent more butter fat or

value of products in case of group 1 compared with

group 3; that is, the best COST OF FEED

COWS made the largest $ 114.86

production at a relatively

much lower feed cost; NET RETURNS

$61.10

hence the percentage in$124.29 OR 52%

crease in the net returns secured was much greater

than that in butter fat, BEST TEN COWS POOREST TEN Cows viz., 108 per cent above Fig. 46.—The areas of the circle represent the that for the lowest lot. average values of the products from the best ten or the poorest ten cows in the Wisconsin Dairy Cow The number of feed units Competition, 1909–11. (Wisconsin Station.)

consumed in the rations fed was increased by only 18 per cent, and the efficiency of the rations calculated per 100 feed units was increased by over 30 per

cent. The same lesson is taught still more strikingly by the results obtained with the best ten and the poorest ten cows in the competition (Fig. 46); the feed of the former cost $114.66 per head for the year, while the net returns were $124.29, or 52 per cent; the feed of the latter cost $61.10, and the net results were $14.89, or only 20 per

cent. The preceding results were obtained with excellent dairy cows, of families that had been bred persistently for a large milk production for many generations. Cows of this type will respond to heavier feeding by an increased milk production up to the extent of their capacity; other cows of different breeding, or bred for beef production, would gain in body flesh by such feeding, and their milk production would be likely to suffer if forced by liberal feeding (Fig. 45). Nearly all dairy herds that have not been carefully culled will contain a considerable proportion of the latter kind of cows; in feeding a herd the individual cows must, therefore, be carefully watched lest they be fattened by the system of feeding adopted, instead of increasing in their milk production. Regular weighing of cows, at least once a month, is a valuable aid in the management of a dairy herd, as it furnishes definite information as to changes in the body weight of individual cows that may occur.

Improvement of Dairy Herds.—The most important factor to be ascertained by a dairy farmer is whether the cows he is feeding are of the dairy type and capable of a good dairy production, or are what are termed “boarders ”—cows whose milk production is barely sufficient to pay for the feed they eat. This can only be determined by testing the individual herds for production, by means of a milk scale (Fig. 47) and a Babcock tester (Fig. 48). This work may be done by the farmer himself or by joining a cowtesting association, la or by having official tests conducted under the direction of the State Agricultural College in coöperation with the respective breed associations. Only cows that come up to a certain standard of production of milk or butter fat should be retained in the herd. This may be gradually increased from 250 to 300, 350, or even 400 pounds butter fat a year. Cows that do not reach the standard set are disposed of as opportunity offers, unless they give promise of doing better in the future, as they have no place in the dairy herd.

Low producers eat considerably more feed per unit of production than high-producing cows, and are not capable of an economical production. Investigations of dairy herds at a number of experiment stations 12 have

FIG. 47.-The spring milk-scale clearly demonstrated the futility of enables the farmer to keep accurate

milk records of his cows with but making dairying pay at present high very little extra effort. (Ottawa sta

tion). prices for feed and labor, with cows . other than of the strict dairy type, that are good individuals; they may be pure-breds, high grade, grade, or natives, according to the resources and the business ability of the farmer, but they must have inbred dairy tendencies and be able to consume large amounts of feed without growing fat. According to the experience of dairy experts, most farmers do not feed their cows to the limit of economical production, and do not try to ascertain whether their cows are capable of making an increased production (Fig. 19). Until this is done, dairy farming, which may be made one of the most profitable branches of animal husbandry, will not yield adequate returns for the labor it requires.

Fig. 48.—The Babcock test for determining the amount of butter fat in milk, cream.

skim milk, etc.

Amount of Feed Eaten Annually by Dairy Cows. The table given below shows the amount of different feeds eaten during the year, by cows in the dairy herds of nine experiment stations, with production of milk and butter fat as well as feed cost, according to Henry.13 The estimated feed units have been added by the

Annual Feed Requirements of the Dairy Cow as Found by Nine Stations *

Average for

nine herds

25

161

5281

$36.71

6494

277

author and also the average figures for the nine stations, including, in the aggregate, twenty-five years for the herds considered.

The system of feeding adopted in the herds included in the preceding compilation varied greatly, both in kinds of feeds and intensity of feeding. The average figures give, however, quite a satisfactory statement of the actual feed requirements of dairy cows as fed in this country. We note that these herds ranged in the amount of milk produced from 5498 pounds in Connecticut (largely Jerseys and Guernseys) to 8783 pounds in Utah (grades), and in butter fat from 237 pounds in Nebraska (largely Jerseys and Holsteins) to 339 pounds in Utah; the average production for all nine herds was 6494 pounds of milk and 277 pounds of butter fat.14 The average

feed per cow for all herds was 2250 pounds of concen

RELATION OF DIGESTIBLE MATTER
AND PROTEIN TO TOTAL DRY MATTER

IN RATIONS FOR
1200 POUND COWS

FOR DRY COWS

Fig. 49.-Production and size are the factors determining the feed requirements of dairy cows. The amounts of dry matter and digestible protein in feed rations should increase in proportion to the production of butter fat.

trates, 5281 pounds of succulent feeds (soiling crops, roots, and silage), 3076 pounds of hay (mixed timothy, clover, or alfalfa), and 161 pasture days, the average feed cost per cow being $36.71, and the number of feed units eaten 6077. These figures may serve as a basis for estimating the actual feed requirements of dairy cows and the returns that may be expected with good cows and careful management.

Feeding Standards.—The feeding standards for dairy cows

* Corresponding to 323 pounds of commercial butter, obtained by adding one-sixth to the amount of butter fat, which is a safe average estimate.

14

according to Wolff-Lehmann and Armsby are given at the beginning of this chapter. The former standards have been modified by Haecker, 15 who has calculated the amounts of digestible protein, carbohydrates, and fat required for the production of a pound of milk testing 3 to 6.5 per cent as follows:

per cent.

In addition to giving digestible protein, carbohydrates, and fat to the third decimal place, Haecker calculates the requirements per pound of milk for differences in fat contents of only 0.1 of 1 per cent between 3.0 and 6.5

In view of the great differences in the returns made by different cows from the feed, eaten, and the great variations to which feeding stuffs are subject, both as regards chemical composition and digestibility, it would seem rather unnecessary to make such fine distinctions. Eckles 16 has modified the Armsby standards according to the fat content of the milk produced, allowing 0.05 to 0.07 pound digestible protein and 0.26 to 0.15 therm per pound of milk testing 3 to 6 per cent (p. 39).

The American Practical Feeding Ration.—The author published in the nineties the following so-called "American Practical Feeding Ration” for dairy cows, as a result of studies of the methods of feeding and the experiences of more than one hundred prominent American dairy farmers with regard to the amounts and character of the feed which will be likely to give the best and most economical results under our conditions when fed to good dairy cows in full flow of milk and of an average weight of 1000 pounds:17