No. 16. 



Stall Feedinsr Cattle. 



293 



some ascribe to the universal practice of feed- 

 ing cattle with a portion of succulent food 

 daily, during the winter season." 



"Agricola" may be correct in saying that 

 "in Great Britain, no disease under the name 

 of hollow horn is known;" but had he stated 

 that no such disease as that called hollow 

 horn in this country, is known in Great Bri- 

 tain, it would have meant something else. 

 The same disease, under different names, 

 exists in both countries. 



After the able discussion between "Ob- 

 server" and " Subscriber" of this very inte- 

 resting subject, it might appear superfluous 

 in me to attempt any thing further — but I feel 

 persuaded that the length of their discussion 

 will prevent many farmers from reading it, 

 and am of the opinion that enough might be 

 said in fewer words. I have had some experi- 

 ence with the disease commonly called hollow 

 horn, and believe I have cured several ani- 

 mals that had it. I learned from an expe- 

 rienced farmer, who still pursues the plan 

 successfully. 



The early symptoms of the disease, as I 

 have noticed them, generally are — dullness 

 in the countenance — falling of the eye-lids — 

 loss of appetite — slowness of motion — hang- 

 ing of the head — sometimes coldness of the 

 horns, at other times more than the natural 

 heat — shaking of the head, &c. 



If the disease has progressed a little far- 

 ther, frequent discharges from the nostrils 

 will take place — afterwards, it may be ob- 

 served that these discharges have stopped, 

 a-nd though the animal has become more 

 restless ; no doubt, the matter has collected 

 in the horns so as to prevent the natural cir- 

 culation of the blood, as the horns at this 

 stage of tlie disease will feel cold. 



In any of these periods (though the earlier 

 the better) I would proceed as follows: — Se- 

 cure the animal firmly to a post, with a good 

 strong rope, having furnished yourself with a 

 gimblet of the size between a spike and a 

 common nail gimblet, a vessel containing 

 about a quart of milk warm water, and a hand- 

 ful of salt, and a syringe of metal or common 

 elder, the former is preferable, proceed to bore 

 the horns about three inches from the head and 

 inject the solution, until the horns and nasal 

 passages are completely cleansed — you may, 

 perhaps, have to repeat the operation to effect 

 a cure, unless you nsay have discovered the 

 early stage of tlie disease. 



If you have been so fortunate, and apply 

 the above remedy, the probability is, the 

 blood will resume its circulation in the inte- 

 rior of the horn and it will become healthy — 

 the holes you have made will close up, and 

 the animal may live a dozen years afterwards 

 without again having the disease; but if thc- 

 worat Btages of the disease should precede 



your remedy the blood will not again circu- 

 late in the horn, and it will remain dry and 

 empty, though the animal may live and in 

 every other respect, do well. As we are 

 subject to take "cold" from imprudent expo- 

 sure, however well we may be fed, so I am 

 of the opinion that cattle, however well they 

 may be fed, when much exposed to cold and 

 wet, are liable to take the disease called 

 Hollow Horn. Very respectfully, 



J. J. M. 



Chester County, April :, 1838. 



The following communication was read before 

 the Philadelphia Society for Promoting Agricul- 

 ture, at its regular monthly meeting, April 18, and 

 ordered to be published in the Farmers' Cabinet : 



Stall Feeding Cattle. 



To the Philadelphia Society for Promoting 

 Agriculture. 



Believmg that the cause of agriculture 

 may be promoted by practical observations 

 and statistical facts, and that theories and 

 principles should be based on these, I beg 

 leave to communicate a statement regarding 

 four bullocks wkich I have had the pleasure 

 of bringing to a high degree of perfection. 

 One of tliese steers was admitted to be one 

 of the fattest ever exhibited in the Philadel- 

 phia market, and the others very little inferior 

 to him. By the annexed statement it will 

 be seen that the result, of between two and 

 three years stall feeding, has been to pay me 

 full prices for the grain, beets and hay con- 

 sumed, and allow the manure for straw and 

 labor, a result that I think would satisfy any 

 reasonable farmer or grazier. 



At the same time to succeed well with 

 feeding large cattle, it is necessary, that they 

 should be kind and good feeders. They 

 should also be attended with especial care. 

 Without these pre-requisites the farmer had 

 better sell his grain than stall feed cattle. 

 Isaac W. Roberts. 



L. Merion township, Montg. Co., Fa., April 17, 1833. 



Statement to Ist May 1836. 



Nor. 15, 183.5, bousrht two steers, esti- 

 mated at 1750 lbs. dead weisrht— cost $110 00 

 Commenced stall feeding them on the 

 1st Dec. and continued 150 days at 27 

 qts. per day or 126 bushels at 70 cents R8 20 

 They consumed two tons of hay at $16 32 00 



The" grain consisted of equal parts of 



corn and oats, ground ; or corn and "mill 230 20 

 .stufl'," or wheat bran. On the 1st May 

 1836, turned them on grass with a pair 

 of oxen, estimated weight 1850 lbs. and 

 valued at $150 00 



Statemeut from 1st May 1836. 



Cost as above of the four cattle $380 20 



Pasture during the season for the four 80 00 

 Commenced feeding grain on the first of 

 October, twice a day, till 1st Dec, and 

 then thre« times per day till Isi May, 



