Rensselaer Journal, Volume 10, Number 32, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 17 January 1901 — Feeding the Cows. [ARTICLE]

Feeding the Cows.

The herd of milch cows at the Minnesota Experiment Station is one of the most profitable in the country. In a report one of the professors tells how they are fed: Few people have any idea how carefully we watch the physical tone and feeding capacity of every animal in the dairy department of the university herd. A stranger passing along in front of the cows when they are finishing their evening meal, and seeing how clean they lick out the manger, not leaving as much as could be put on the end of a penknife, would conclude that the cows were not being liberally fed; in fact, that they were half starved. And as conclusive evidence that such were really the case, he would point at the clearly defined ribs, sharp hips and backbone, thin thighs and necks, and probably remark that he would not have such a scrawny animal in his barn. And yet, if an additional pound of grain were added to their ration probably half the cows would go off t£eir feed before the close of the week. Our barn is open to the public, and scarcely a day passes when there is not a visitor there inspecting it. We feed twice a day and challenge any one to find in the mangers of the forty cows a cupful of food, grain or roughage, after they have finished their meal. Once in a while, one not feeling just right will leave a little, but this is removed at once, and generally by the next feeding time she will need the usual amount. No food should be left in the mangers from one feeding period to another. Cows should be kept away from food between meals.