If not previously done, I now procure three thousand pounds of the best
early cut clover hay. As my shed is not sufficiently large to store
away this amount, I am obliged to stack part of it. I also procure bran
and meal. The amount of these which I require for a year’s supply is:
of bran, one thousand pounds; of corn meal, one thousand pounds; and
of oat meal, seven hundred and fifty pounds. These amounts, well mixed
together, will furnish a feed of eight quarts per day, which amount is
diminished during the period in which the cow is dry, and is sometimes
increased, if by any means other food is short. It is not advisable
to procure all this feed at once, for, if stored, it would be quite
likely to heat and mould before it could be used, besides being subject
to loss from rats and other vermin. I therefore procure one-sixth of
this amount, or two months’ supply at a time, and I have often found it
convenient and profitable to buy the corn and oats and have them ground
myself. The course pursued in feeding from November first until February
fifteenth, at which time the cow becomes dry, is similar to that which I
have described for the month of April. It is better to dry off the cow
four, five, or even six weeks prior to calving. Sometimes, in order to do
this, it will be necessary to omit the grain and diminish the quantity of
roots for a few days, but after she becomes quite dry I resume feeding as
before, except perhaps to lessen the amount of grain until within a few
days of calving, when I omit the grain entirely until, as I have before
stated, the danger from milk fever, etc., is past.