C-^^TTXiE- 



Working Oxen, etc.— Digestion— How to Peed.— See "Horsesi 

 — Digestion of," compared with the ox, how they should be fed, etc. I wilr 

 simply say here, that an ox having a larger stomach, or rather four stomachs, 

 while the horse has but one, is not refreshed and strengthened as the horse is by 

 a feed of meal alone, but needs it to be mixed with cut hay or cut straw, for a 

 noon feed, and at least two hours for feeding and ruminating, i. e., " chewing 

 his cud," to get the full benefit ot his dinner. 



As to Cows. — Although they ought to have the best of feed and care all 

 the time, if rich milk, good butter or good cheese are expected from them; yet, 

 the time when they need more especial care, is for a couple of weeks before, 

 and at the time of calving, for if they pass this period without accident, and 

 do not have milk-fever following it, there is generally but little trouble with 

 them. This disease is not as prevalent in the Western States as in the Eastern, 

 especially Rhode Island, Massachusetts, and Connecticut, and it is believed to 

 be more prevalent on account of their higher feeding to obtain all the milk pos- 

 sible from them, and also that of a rich butter, or cheese producing quality, 

 and hence meal enters largely into their feed, which alone, is of a heating 

 nature, and has a tendency, at this particular period, it is believed, to make the 

 cow more likely to have milk-fever. A Mr. Ansel W. Putnam, of Danvers, 

 Mass., gives his experience to his fellow dairy-men through the New York Trib- 

 une, to enable them to avoid having this disease, which is far better than to be 

 able to cure even after it has once set in, but the fact is few are cured. Let me 

 say then, that as I fully believe Mr. Putnam's plan of giving cold water enough 

 to satisfy thirst, is better than the giving only a little warm water, as heretofore 

 recommended. I the more cheerfully recommend every one to follow all his 

 directions, and thus avoid the disease. He says: 



Milk-Fever, To Avoid. — "I am in the habit of giving water to cows, 

 as soon as they drop their calves, and I have never known a case of milk-fever 

 when the cow had all thfi "yater she wanted soon after calving, and the want 

 was kept supplied at short intervals, giving a pailful at a time, fresh from the 

 well. In all cases of milk-fever that I have known anything about, the cows 

 went without water for a long time, and then were allowed to drink a large 

 quantity, and the re-action was too great for the system. 



"Cows which are fat," Mr. Putnam says, "should have no heating food 

 for two weeks before calving. And, first, to milk the cow as soon as she calves, 

 then to give her a bucket of water, fresh from the well, such as a thirsty man 

 would relish. In half an hour after give her another, and so on until she is 

 satisfied, '^pry few," he continues, " understand how necessary it is to supply 



