FEEDING FOR MILK.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIII, Issue 19253, 16 February 1926, Page 14

FEEDING FOR MILK.

BASIS OF QUANTITIES. ~<4S :v. 5 ■ THE SOUNDEST FOUCY* Mr. W. D. Thompson, in the Farmer and Stockbreeder, sayis: "Successful feeding for milk: production is not the result of merely supplying the animals with fixed / amounts of a balanced ration at regular intervals; it is an art. Only by a. constant Btudy of animaJ3 in,, one's carp, can. one hope to get the best out of each indK yiduiil. The fcedeir should know each' member of iLs herd very 1 should study weaknesses, peculiarities, inclination to put on flesh, or otherwise; capacity, both l for food and the production of milk, s;:id their limitations. The actual programme of feeding should be based on average current yields as shown on the record sheet. The judgment of the man on the spot over such ques- '/>/ lions as increasing allowances should be guided by consideration of the following knd, similar factors Possibility to increase yields; body condition; the weather and supplies of food. It is usually a sound. policy to feed a little in excess of the actual requirements of the cow, us stated in. rthe'Standard tables from which the ration baa beeii calculated. This allows for discrepancy between the food analyses as given in. the tables, and that of the food being used. It allows also for the wa&te caused by animals when eating, and for the chance to improve yields. This is especially necessary in the case of newly-calved cows, For a four-five gallon cow, approaching . j the maximum of her yield, Ido not consider it extravagant to feed lib. of concentrates in excess of he? requirements. •This not only gives her a chance of beating her previous best, but it permits of her maintaining body condition under the continual strain of productive effort. \lf not carefultv tended, som9 heavy mOkors habitually reduce themselves to a skeleton by the end of the lactation. But, looking ahead of breeding and other issues, ■. the wise feeder will do all ii) his power to prevent this state of malnutrition. Deciding when the extr? pound or halfpound should be discontinued is a fine point of judgment which can be Acquired - only in the byre. As a g,raiding, but not an inflexible rule, it is when the records show that the cow is incapable of furtheij rise in her milk, yet is maintaining lor "a week at a time her current yield, without losing in bodily health and vigour. Beal loss is incurred when food in excess of requirements is being fed only to put unwanted bfeef on to the animal, or to be voided with the excreta. The'allowance of concentrates should f be gradually and proportionately; reduced as the inilk yield diminishes with advancing lactation. Waste can be readily avoided if the feeder will impose a strict; restraint on any tendencies ho may have to fritter away profits by injudicious feeding.. My impression is that, on most farms, possible profits are considerably lessened by thoughtlessness or, maybe, lack of method at feeding time.