568 IOWA DEPARTMBNT OF AGRICULTURE. 



this is a mistake. Cattle should be put on dry foods gradually 

 from weaning time so that they hardly know when they have 

 been put on dry food; they will do much better. 



O. O. Wolf: When a nurse-cow is used, is the calf allowed 

 to stay with her during the day, or is the nurse-cow tied up 

 and the calf allowed to be with her only a part of the time? 



Mr.Stodder: My practice is always to keep the nurse-cow 

 and calf separate. In the evening when the cow comes in she 

 is given a small feed of grain, the calf is allowed to nurse at 

 night and at no other time and in no other way. They soon 

 learn, both of them, to know just exactly what is coming, and 

 both seem to do well under that treatment, 



John Peck : Do these people who provide nurse-cows see 

 that these cows are highly bred, or are they beef cows or dairy 

 cows ? 



Mr. Stodder : If the gentleman would go into some barn, 

 where nurse-cows are provided, I think it would be necessary to 

 ask that question. I think I have seen some of the meanest look- 

 ing old "pelters" there that I ever saw anywhere. What we want 

 is a cow that is a good milker, and that is all we want. 



C. F. Stones: I think Mr. Stodder has told us some things 

 OS especial interest in regard to show cattle. In the first place, 

 I am going to answer the ciuestion in regard to sore feet and 

 their causes. The first reason is carelessness, and failure to 

 properly take care of them in their stalls, and the second cause 

 is just simply pure carelessness on the part of the herder. 



The next point is in regard to the roots and grain and grass ; 

 they are a separate food, and the cattle have got to have such 

 in order to put their digestive organs in proper shape to make 

 use of other foods, and my preference for dairy breeding is 

 grass. I think there is nothing like grass. Cows may be in- 

 clined to eat a little too much grass and eat less in the stable in 

 the morning. In such case, I think the root would perhaps be 

 preferable. 



