ON THE LAND.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume 46, Issue 14144, 16 June 1920, Page 3

ON THE LAND.

(By 1 1 Agricola. ’ ’) MANAGEMENT OF DKY COW. It is not so very long ago that the dry row received very little care or feed from her owner, but now many farmers have learned that t-lic dry cow must have as much feed as is given to one in milk. Furthermore, that she must also be well carod for during the entire period of pregnancy. Sixty-live per cent of the total development of the embryo calf takes place during the period of gestation, so during this time the cow must receive enough to maintain her strength, and enough more to produce from 75 to 100 lbs of live flesh. The feed that goes to produce the embryo corresponds to tluit which the producing cow expends in making milk and butter fat. The cow that is left to shift for itself in the old way in a field with very' little feed may look fairly well, because her prodigious appetite at this time enables her to consume lots of very coarse feed: but when the calf is dropped it will be found that it takes a great amount of feed, and much time, t</gct such a cow to produce profitably again. Besides this, the cow is injured permanently, and her producing life is shortened. Also the calf from a cow carried, through the dry period in such a manner is seldom of any great value, being a weakling from the start. On the other hand, the cow that is carried through the two or three months in which she is dry on a good pus ture, with plenty of feed to keep her in condition, or on a.good stable-fed ration, comes into milk amid circumstances that make for maximum production from tliQ start. In the matter of feeding, there is a saving of food in keeping the cow in condition; because she produces from the start on regular feed, while the thin cow must be* s given the maximum ration for some length of time before she produces at all profitably. The cow treated in such manner produces well for a longer period than the others, remaining dry the next time for only a short while. Also, her calf is a good one, and such as will help to build up the herd; while by the other methods the effects of years of caerful breeding are undone. However, the too fat cow seldom has a good calf, and much may be wasted in keeping the cow too fat. The feed for drv cows need not differ materially from the feed given cows in milk, and about the same amount ean be given. To prevent overfattening at the expense of lessening the bone and muscle of the. embryo, the drv cow should not be given as much fat-producing grain concentrates as the cow in milk. Oats and bran are the most excellent- concentrates for feeding the dry cow. As calving time approaches the cow needs some laxative- feed. Oil meal, say's the Maritime Farmer,” is excellent, and silage is a good succulent laxative, especially in winter. The chief rough teed should bo good leguminous hay, preferably clover. Not too much of the coarser roughages should be fed, though some is good to make „tho feed more bulky.