NEAT CATTLE. 175 



DRY HERBAGE. 



Hay is the principal dry herbage for cattle. Herds 

 grass, with a small portion of clover and red- top, is ilie 

 best for oxen at hard labor. It is good for cows ; biii 

 clover, timely cut, and well saved, is a superior fodder 

 for milch cows, young cattle, and sheep. We have 

 found, by experiments, that herds grass, cut about a 

 week after it is in blossom, when the seed is about full, 

 is preferred by cattle, in a long run ; gives the greatest 

 weight, affords the most nutriment, and is better for 

 working oxen than when cut at any other time. Some 

 cut it in blossom, for cows. 



Straw of various kinds is good food for a spare diet, 

 and with grain, meal, or roots, it is good for store cattle. 

 Straw and hay are better for all kinds of stock for being 

 cut. [See page 97.] 



Com fodder is excellent for cattle ; and when there is 

 a prospect of a light crop of hay, it is in season to raise 

 this crop. An acre of good land will yield six tons of 

 dry fodder. If it be large, it should be cut, to prevent 

 waste. 



GRAIN, MEAL, &C. 



Indian corn and meal is the principal grain fed to 

 working oxen . It is far better for all kinds of stock for 

 being ground, as it is more readily digested, and affords 

 more nutriment. It is used in stall feeding. It is too 

 rich for milch cows, excepting in a small way. It is best 

 to grind the corn and cob together ; as there will be more 

 bulk. Corn alone, is too rich. Cobs contain some 

 nutriment, as appears from their producing alcohol. 

 Those who will not allow the chemist's test, must meet 

 the irrefutable argument of the case of the old lady, 

 who, in a scarcity of hay, kept her cow in fine condition 

 mostly on boiled cobs. 



Oil meal and flaxseed, in quite small quantities, are 

 excellent for cattle, and all animals of hard tallow ; but 

 for animals of soft fat, as swine and poultry, they are 

 not good. 



