In estimating the feeding requirements of the dairy herd calculate to provide basic maintenance entirely from grass, either as silage and grazing—hay and grazing—or best of all silage, hay and grazing. Then provide milk production requirements from a combination of grass and arable, i.e. first quality grazing in the summer with first quality silage from grass leys and arable crops such as oats, dredge corn, beans or linseed, in the winter.

   Winter and summer maintenance requirements, though varying considerably from one cow to another—even within a breed,—may be calculated from the following rough guide. But using this as a guide only, allow more, or less per head for the period, according to the general condition of the animal.

               Total requirements per cow
                                 Summer 6 months
           Winter 6 months plus daily average of
                               2 gallons of milk 
    
                           Old
                  Best   pasture   New    Simple
                ley hay or simple herbal mixture
                         mixture   ley   or poor 
    Breed                ley hay           ley
                  cwt.    cwt.    acres   acres
Jerseys, Dexters   20      30      1/2-3/4    1-1-1/2
Kerry, Ayrshire,
   Guernseys       30      45      3/4-1    1-1/4—1-1/2
Shorthorns,          
    Friesians      40      55      1-1/4      2
Devons, Red Polls  45      60      1-1/2    21/2
    

   From a knowledge of yields on your farm the acreage required for hay may then be calculated.

   For individual cows a good way of arriving at the required maintenance ration is to take the live weight in hundredweights, subtract one and multiply by two. This gives the maintenance requirements in pounds of hay. For instance, a Jersey cow weighing 7 cwt. will require 7 — 1 = 6 x 2 is 12 lb. hay each day to keep her fit and active, but not producing.

   A maintenance ration may then be devised by using the following table of hay equivalents:

3 lb. silage equals 1 lb. of hay

4 lb. kale equals 1 lb. of hay

1 lb. oat straw (unthreshed) equals 1 lb. hay

2 lb. oat straw (threshed) equals 1 lb. hay

1 lb. straw plus 3 lb. roots equals 1 lb. hay

2/3 lb. dried beet pulp equals 1 lb. hay

1 lb. undried beet pulp equals 1 lb. hay

   If homegrown cereals are being fed for production, then silage may be fed ad lib. for maintenance, or in conjunction with other roughage such as good oat straw, kale, mangolds, or hay.

   Where silage, kale, or cabbage, or a combination of these with hay is to be used, I take the following as my guide:

Winter Feeding

   Period of approximately 170 days.

   1 lb. a day a head = approximately 1-1/2 cwt.

   Allow an average of :

30 lb. daily for cows: 45 cwt.

10 lb. daily for young stock: 15 cwt.

On an estimated yield of 15 tons an acre this means that a herd of equal numbers of cows and young stock would need one-fifth acre a cow.

   Allow the same quantities as kale, that is 3 tons per cow to cover cattle of all ages where young stock and cows are in equal numbers.

   On an arable silage crop of say oats and vetches this can be grown on one-third acre so that a herd of 30 cows and 30 followers would need ten acres of oats and vetches or similar silage crop.

   If hay is to form the bulk of your maintenance ration allow 15 lb. a cow, and 8 lb. a head young stock, or just over 1 ton per cow and 12 cwt. each for young stock.

   If the allowance of kale and silage are as above and you have oat straw for bulky dry fodder, then hay may be dispensed with altogether, or at most fed to the youngest stock only, when an average allowance of 5 to 8 lb. a head with some kale or silage will be enough for cattle up to eighteen months old.

Summer and Winter Grazing Requirements

   On first-class leys including the deep-rooting herbs on strong fertile land, one acre should feed one cow and one head of young stock throughout the summer.

   On poorer land and less productive leys allow 1-1/4 acres per cow and £ acre per head of young stock. An additional 1 acre per head of young stock and dry cows will be needed for winter grazing, supplemented by oat straw and/or kale or silage, and winter weed grazing. To summarize, the requirements of a dairy herd on a per cow basis assuming equal numbers of young stock, are:

                                Acre per cow




Kale                            1/5 
Arable, silage crop             1/3 
Hay (permanent grass)            1 
Hay (seeds ley)                  1/2
Oats                             1 
Linseed or Beans                 1/2
Grazing (good)                   1
Grazing (poor)                   2 
Winter grazing                   1

Production Rations

   Cereals. Allow 3 lb. per gallon of milk, or 1 ton (approx.) for a 700-gallon cow, which on average yields is 1 acre of oats per cow.

   Protein food. 1 lb. per gallon of milk which for 700-gallons may be obtained from half-acre per cow of linseed or beans or peas.

   As grass will supply the production requirements of a large part of the milk yield the above production allowances will also cover the requirements of young stock in the limited instances where meal feeding is given.

   The best possible production ration from the point of view of health of the cattle, which a good farmer always considers before excessive-yield producing rations, is the simple mixture of ground oats and linseed or beans in the following ratio:

3 lb. ground oats,
1 lb. ground linseed or beans,

both ground at frequent intervals so that the full freshness of the oil of the linseed and the oat, as well as essential vitamins shall be retained. Though not always possible, daily grinding is the ideal.

Examples of Complete Rations for
Maintenance and Production

For a Jersey cow giving 1 gallon of milk:
   (a) Hay (average quality)          15 lb.
       Molassed silage                15 lb.
   (b) Hay (average quality)          15 lb.
       Kale                           20 lb.
   (c) Hay (average quality)          15 lb.
       Crushed oats                    4 lb.

For a Jersey cow giving 2 gallons of milk:
   (a) Hay (average quality)          10 lb.
       Molassed silage                30 lb.
   (b) Hay (average quality)          15 lb.
       Mangolds                       50 lb.
       Bean meal                       2 lb.

For a Jersey cow giving 3 gallons of milk:
   (a) Hay (first quality)            15 lb. 
       Molassed silage
            (first quality)           30 lb.
           or
       Ground oats                     9 lb. 
       Ground linseed or beans         3 lb.
   (b) Hay (average quality)          10 lb.
       Mangolds                       25 lb.
       Bean meal or linseed meal       3 lb.
       Crushed cereals (oats)         12 lb.

   The wisest course from a health standpoint is to allow natural foods, ad lib., as available, rationing carefully only the more stimulating concentrated foods.

   As a rich source of all the minerals and trace elements found in nature, and essential to the general health and especially the fecundity of the cow, seaweed in some form should be fed as a supplement. A teaspoonful daily of the best quality seaweeds blended in powder form or 10 per cent of the straight seaweed food. Alternatively or additionally—though this has a long-term effect—apply seaweed raw, or via the compost heap or as a powdered fertilizer, to the soil in which the food of the cattle is grown.

Feeding Routine

   If a production ration has been worked out, it is fed at the rate of 3-1/2 or 4 lb. per gallon of milk being given by the cow over and above what may be expected from the maintenance ration. The orthodox system of arriving at a production ration on the basis of protein and starch equivalents, while providing a useful rough guide must not be relied upon to give entirely satisfactory results. A far better measure of the needs of a cow are the herdsman's own eyes and the application of his intelligence and instinct. This means that feeding should be adjusted to the individual requirements of each cow, as shown by her day-to-day performance and appearance.

   Whatever the ration or the quantity, the best routine to follow in order to ensure optimum output from the cow is to keep the quantity of production ration approximately a gallon ahead of the cow each week from the second week after calving, until she shows no further sign of increased yield. Then gradually lower the ration till she is getting the exact requirements per gallon of her yield. This peak period will last for some weeks before the fall in yield gives the sign for a further change in ration. But don't drop the production ration immediately there is a drop in yield. The fall in milk yield may be due to some other factor than food or the advancing stage of the lactation. Wait till the end of a week, then continue another week feeding a

   ration for half a gallon more than the average yield for the week of the fall in yield. If, after this week, there is no return to a higher yield then it may be assumed that the lowering yield is normal and feeding should be adjusted accordingly. But always keep the lower production ration a week behind the lower yield.

   The production ration for each week may be determined by taking the average daily yield at the end of the week and feeding for the coming week at that daily rate per gallon.

Bull Feeding

   Mature bulls, indeed all weaned bulls, are best limited entirely to grass in the summer and silage, hay, oat straw and kale or roots in the winter. If these foods are available in quantities to satisfy his appetite the working bull is better without any kind of concentrate feeding. One of my best show bulls has never touched anything but grass and other bulky foods since he was a year old and he is still working at 11 years old and likely to continue for some years yet. What is more he always reaches high condition for the summer shows if tethered on grass as soon as there is any.

   As a basis for calculating the cropping requirements of the dairy herd I have worked out a table which gives all the information that is likely to be required. From the size of the herd and the information given in the section on 'Feeding the Herd' the required quantity of any crop may be estimated. It is an easy matter, then, from the following table to work out the acreage needed—seed required to sow that acreage and the time to sow that acreage. But to allow for bad weather during growing or harvesting allow about 25 per cent bigger acreage as a safety margin. For instance, if you are sowing oats for thirty cows you will need 1 ton a cow. A yield of 25 cwt. per acre may be expected so you should allow thirty acres. The seed for this will be approximately 120 bushels if it is to be drilled or 180 bushels broadcast, and times of sowing are August to October or February and March.

SEEDING RATES AND TIMES, AND ESTIMATED YIELDS
Bushel weights and seeding rates assuming normal purity and germination Yields assuming average fertility and organic methods

Seed	Weight per Bushel lb.	How sown	Seed required per acre (bushel)	Time of Sowing (inclusive)	Acreage yields to expect
Barley	50-56		2-4	Dec.-May	25 cwt.
Maize	60		1-1/4—2-1/4	Mar.-May	20 tons (green)
Oats	38-45	Drilled Broadcast	3—5-1/2 4-1/2—7	Aug.-Oct. Feb.-Mar.	25 cwt.
Rye for corn	55-60		2-3	Autumn	20-30 cwt.
Rye for green    fodder			3-4	Any time	10 tons
Wheat	60-63	Drilled Broadcast	1-1/2—3 3-4	Aug.-Oct. Feb.-Mar.	25-40 cwt. 20-30 cwt.
Beans	62-66	2-4	2-4	Sept.-Oct.	1/2-1 ton
Peas	62-64		2-3	Dec.-Mar.	20-30 cwt.
Buckwheat	50	Drilled Broadcast	1-2 2—2-1/2	Mar.-May	1 ton
Cabbage	50-56	Drilled Transplanted	4-6 lb 2—2-1/2 lb.	Aug. & Feb Oct. & Mar.	20 tons
Carrot	30	Drilled	8-10 lb.	Feb.-June	15 tons
Kale	50-56	Drilled Broadcast	4-6 lb. 10 lb.	Feb.-July	20 tons
Kohl Rabi	50-56	Drilled	3-5 lb.	Feb.-April	15 tons
Lucerne     (Alfala)	62-64	D. or B.	20-28 lb.	Aug. or April	20 tons 30 tons green
Mangold	16-20	Drilled	7-8 lb.	Mar.-April	30-40 tons
Mustard, white	50-56	Broadcast	20 lb.	Any time	Green manure
Parsnip	17-19		6-8 lb.	Spring	12-15 tons
Potato	56		12-20 cwt.	Spring	10-15 tons
Rape	50-56	Drilled Broadcast	4-6 lb. 10-16 lb.	Feb.-Aug	12-15 tons
Sainfoin, milled	62	Drilled	56 lb	Spring or August	3 tons per acre, green
Sanfoin, in husk	20-28	Drilled	4 bu.	Spring or August	2 tons per acre, green
Sugar beet	16-20	Drilled	12 lb.	Aril	12-20 tons
Swede	50-56	Drilled	3-4	Feb.-July	15-20 tons
Turnip	50-52	Drilled	2-4	Feb.-July	12-15 tons
Vetches or Tare    and Oats or    Rye	60-64	Drilled	1 bushel plus 2 oats or Rye	Spring or Autumn	10 tons green
Flax, for linseed	52-56	D. or B.	40-60 lb	April	10-20 cwt.
Herbal ley    mixture	--	D. or B.	36-48	April or Sept.	2 tons hay 4-6 tons silage

THE GOOSEGREEN HERBAL LEY MIXTURE
in lb. per acre

   For detailed information regarding cultivations by fertility farming methods read my book, Fertility Farming.

   As a means of providing quickly the most valuable herbs in fields where simple mixtures are already sown, and not to be broken for a year or two, I have devised the following Hedgerow Herbal Mixture which may be sown at any time from the end of March to mid-September around the hedgerows, on the disced headland or on the banks. Close to the hedge where the soil is loose and friable from leaf-fall, it is enough merely to sprinkle the seed in the loose soil. Otherwise rake the seed in to ensure quick germination.

   Even where a herbal ley occupies the whole field, additional health assurance for the herd may be gained by sowing the hedgerow mixture.

   Additionally, plant hazel and raspberry. Hazel leaves benefit the colour and quality of milk; raspberry is a tonic for the reproductive system of the cow and the bull.

HEDGEROW HERBAL MIXTURE FOR COWS, GOATS
AND HORSES