Kankakee Valley Post, Volume 1, Number 14, DeMotte, Jasper County, 27 October 1932 — DAIRY FACTS [ARTICLE]

DAIRY FACTS

NEED CALCIUM IN DRY-PERIOD FEED Cows Should Be Fleshy in Parturition Time. As they usually lose flesh for three or four weeks after calving, because they cannot consume sufficient feed to protide adequately for both the milk flow and maintenance of body weight, dairy cows should carry considerable flesh at the time of parturition. It is a well-known fact that cows in good condition at calving time will start off the lactation period at a higher level of production than thin cows. This results in larger milk yields for the year. The feed during the dry period should be high in minerals. This is especially true of calcium, since investigations at several agriculturel experiment stations clearly show it to be the mineral most likely to be depleted. A supply of calcium may be insured by a good pasture in the summer and properly cured leguminous hay in the winter. A good grain mixture to condition a dry cow is: 3 parts by weight of ground corn, 3 of ground oats, 3 of bran, and 1 of linseed meal. The quantity of feed supplied should be sufficient to bring the cow to a proper state of flesh at calving time. About two weeks before the cow freshens she should be fed a light laxative ration such as wheat bran, ground oats and linseed oil meal. The ration should not contain too much roughage as its bulk adds to the discomfort of the cow. As soon as the cow freshens it is a good practice to give her warm water to drink and follow with a warm bran mash.