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The Proper Supplementary Ration for Milking Cows on Fertilized Pasture¹

Massachusetts Agricultural Experiment Station, Amherst

ABSTRACT

In the beginning, nature endowed the progenitors of our modern dairy cow with the ability to produce sufficient milk to nourish their calves until those youngsters were able to rustle for themselves. She also furnished these early cattle with an abundance of lush spring grass during the lactation period. As the season advanced the grass contained less protein and more carbohydrate and fiber. The cows gradually dried off and began to restore the flesh lost while nursing their calves.

Through the years, by selection and feeding, we have extended the lactation period to a full year and increased the yield of milk many times, supplying the necessary additional nutrients largely in the form of the concentrated by-products of cereal grains. Until recently, we had made no serious attempt to lengthen the productive period or to improve the yield and quality of nature's own feed for the dairy cow, namely, pasture grass.

¹ Massachusetts Agricultural Experiment Station Contribution No. 155, 1932.

² The author wishes to express to Prof. C. H. Parsons, Farm Superintendent, and Thomas Muir, Herdsman, his appreciation of their assistance in carrying on this trial, and to acknowledge the cooperation of the Experiment Station which made this trial possible.