(J38 FEEDING OF CATTLE. 



6. PURE AIR. This must always be supplied in abundance, 

 and is as essential in importance as nutritious food. But it must be 

 regulated so as to be free from draughts or strong currents blowing 

 directly upon the animals in very cold weather. 



Profitable Mode of Feeding 1 Cows for Milking Fur- 

 poses In feeding dairy cows the main object is, of course, to pro- 

 mote the yield of milk. 1'erfect health is the first essential, and 

 this is to be maintained only by a generous system of feeding. 

 Milch cows should have no more exercise than will keep them in 

 health, and avoid the accumulation of fat beyond what is meant by 

 good condition, and their feed should stimulate to the utmost the 

 secretion of milk. This is best accomplished by the use of rich and 

 well-cured hay, to which are added roots and bran. With respect to 

 the exact routine to be observed, the individual will have to be 

 largely governed by circumstances, but the following practice from 

 Mr. 1 lint's well-known and justly celebrated work, may be taken as 

 a good rule for the general guidance in the stall-feeding of dairy 

 animals. Mr. Flint says: " I have found in my own practice and 

 in that of the most successful dairymen, that in order to encourage 

 the largest secretion of milk in stalled cows, one of the best courses 

 is to feed, in the morning, either at the time of milking, or I prefer 

 immediately afterwards, with cut-feed, consisting of hay, oats, mil- 

 let, or cornstalks, mixed with shorts and Indian, linseed or cotton- 

 seed meal, thoroughly moistened with water. If in winter, hot or 

 warm water is better than cold. If given at milking time, the cows 

 will generally give down the milk more readily. The stalls and 

 mangers ought always to be well cleaned out first. Roots and long 

 hay may be given during the day ; and at the evening milking, or 

 immediately after, another generous meal of cut feed well moistened 

 and mixed as in the morning. !No very concentrated food, like grains 

 alone or oil cakes, should, it seems to me, be fed early in the morn- 

 ing or on an empty stomach, though it is sanctioned by the practice 

 of the London milk dairies. The processes of digestion go on best 

 when the stomach is sufficiently distended; and for this purpose the 

 bulk of the food is almost as important as the nutritive qualities. 

 The flavor of some roots, as cabbage or turnips, is more apt to be 

 imparted to the milk when fed on an empty stomach than otherwise. 

 After the cows have been milked and have finished their cut feed, 

 they are carded or curried down in well-managed dairies, and then 

 either watered in the stall, (which in very cold or stormy weather is 

 preferable), or turned out to water in the yard. When they are let 

 out, if at all, the stables are put in order, and after tying them up, 

 they are fed with long hay and left to themselves till the time of 

 next feeding. This may consist of roots such as cabbages, beets, 

 carrots or turnips sliced, or of potatoes, a peck, or if the cows are 

 very large, a half-bushel each, and cut. Feed again at the evening, 

 as in the morning, after which water in the stall, if possible. The 

 less cows are exposed to the cold of winter the better. They eat 



