1868. 



NEW ENGLAND FAEMER. 



333 



SALT IN FATTENING CATTLE. 

 There is no doubt that the use of salt in- 

 creases the appetite of animals, and enables 

 them to digest more food, and consequently 

 to take on more fat. There ought to be more 

 accurate knowledge on this subject, especially 

 among those who are stall-feeding stock. 



The following is the substance of an ac- 

 count of experiments by Theodore Von Lau- 

 ner in the use of salt, which we find in Von 

 Weekherlin's View of Food. 



The last winter he made an experiment for 

 determining the influence of increasing doses 

 of salt on the appetite of horned cattle in the 

 case of two lean oxen of 1740 lbs., live 

 weight. 



For two weeks these oxen received twice a 

 week, in the evening, per head, one and one- 

 half ounces of salt, with which both oxen con- 

 sumed daily, thirty-four lbs. of choice hay, on 

 an average. 



After this, the two oxen received the above 

 mentioned portion of salt daily, for ten days, 

 in which, on an average, they both together 

 ate forty and one-fourth lbs. of best hay. 

 With the same daily portion of salt, the two 

 oxen consumed in the next nine days, an av- 

 erage of forty-six and one-half lbs., of best 

 hay ; and with the same daily portion of salt, 

 their daily consumption in eleven day? more 

 amounted to fifty-one and one-half Ihs., best 

 hay. 



Afterwards the two oxen, for eighteen days, 

 received daily, twice a day, tbd usual quantity 

 of salt, and their consumption of fodder rose 

 on the average daily, to fifty-five and three- 

 fourths lbs. of hay. 



Then they received the usual quantity of 

 salt daily, three "times in the day, and their 

 daily average consumption of hay fell to fifty- 

 one lbs. 



This portion of salt then appeared to be too 

 large, and they were given again the usual 

 portion of salt once a day, on which their 

 daily consumption of hay, as before with the 

 same quantity, reached fifty-one and one-half 

 lbs. 



The daily consumption of thirty-four lbs. 

 rose, therefore, with the daily dose of salt to 

 fifty-one lbs., and with twice a day a portion 

 of salt, to fifty-five and three-fourths lbs. ; 

 while by its being given three times a day, it 

 sunk to fifty-one lbs., for the two oxen. 



From this exhibit it is evident how impor- 

 tant is the furnishing a proper dose of salt to 

 homed cattle, especially when coarse hard hay 

 or much straw is foddered to them. 



The writer does not state whether the drink 

 which the oxen took was increased in like pro- 

 portion. But another German farmer, in the 

 same work gives an account of an experiment 

 in giving salt to ten fattening wethers, and 

 none to ten others, which were fattening with 

 them, at the same time. Those which had the 

 salt drank during the experiment, the time of 

 which is not stated, 533 measures of water, 

 while those which had no salt drank only 256. 



When cattle are feeding upon dry hay, it is 

 desirable that they should drink freely, as the 

 hay is thereby softened, and its nutriment 

 more completely extracted. This is especially 

 true of cows giving milk, which, as is well 

 known, will drink more than dry stock, be- 

 cause a large portion of the fluid received, is 

 taken up by the milk-forming organs. The 

 daily use of a proper dose of salt, would 

 probably promote in them an appetite for 

 drink, as well as for hay, and thus increase the 

 supply of milk. But too large a dose, it 

 sficms, will diminish the appetite. The proper 

 dose must be determined, in the case of each 

 animal, by experience, for different animals 

 wili doubtless require different quantities. 



An overdose of salt generally irritates the 

 coats of the intestines, and proves cathartic, 

 both in men and animals. 



CLOVER SEED. 



We think there is less clover seed raised in 

 this State, and indeed in New England, than 

 formerly. We are in the habit of depending 

 upon imported seed. At the present price of 

 the seed it may be made a profitable crop, and 

 there is no reason why our farmers should not 

 raise at least what they need for their own use. 

 As we hope to see clover more extensively cul- 

 tivated, not only for its value as fodder, but 

 as a means of improving the soil, we think 

 it important that the domestic supply should 

 be abundant, as it would then be more freely 

 used. 



Clover, rightly managed, is a profitable 

 crop. The first crop should be cut early, and 

 if properly secured there is no better hay, es- 

 pecially for milch cows and sheep. This crop 

 should be cut about the first of July, or by 



