460 FEEDING FARM ANIMALS 



Moreover, such changes affect the quality of the milk 

 of dams to such an extent as in some instances to be seri- 

 ously harmful to the young which they are nursing. This 

 may happen when the change is made to a diet that is well 

 adapted to the production of good milk. Should brood 

 sows, for instance, be suddenly put on abundant clover 

 pasture when young and fresh, the danger is present that 

 scours will affect the young that they are nursing. It some- 

 times happens also, that when ewes nursing young lambs 

 are quickly changed from dry food to abundant pastures, 

 the change in the quality of the milk and its superabun- 

 dance lead to derangement in digestion so serious that 

 death may follow. 



When herbivorous animals are changed suddenly from 

 a dry diet to one of succulent pastures, the change is prob- 

 ably accompanied in all instances by a loss of weight. This 

 results from the lax condition of the bowels. This loss 

 may be so serious as to call for three or four weeks grazing 

 before the weight is recovered that was thus lost. Even 

 though the change is made prudently with animals on a 

 full grain ration, the gains will probably be lowered more or 

 less for a time. Cows also will be reduced in flesh somewhat, 

 notwithstanding that the milk flow may be greater. 



The change, therefore, should be made from dry food 

 to succulent pastures very gradually. It is considered good 

 practice to turn cattle that are being given a full grain ra- 

 tion out on pasture just after the noon meal has been 

 consumed, and to leave them on the grass for not more 

 than an hour the first day. The period of grazing is then 

 lengthened each day, and not less than 15 days should be 

 covered in making the change. The grain ration is in the 

 meantime continued, and the animals are encouraged to 

 eat fodder suitable in kind. If, however, the fresh young 

 grass is mixed with dead grass uneaten from the previous 

 year's growth, the time occupied in making the change may 

 be shortened, as the tendency to scouring will not be so 

 marked. 



