PASTURING AND SOILING 11/ 



sometimes from the stomach, up the esophagus, and out 

 of the nose or mouth — 'belched up,' as it is commonly- 

 expressed. These gases which cause an animal to bloat 

 are generated in considerable quantities if a large amount 

 of juicy, green food is eaten. Alfalfa, clover and frozen 

 roots are very liable to produce bloating. 



"It is well known that only part of the animals in a 

 herd pasturing upon clover or alfalfa bloat; so the blame 

 cannot be laid entirely upon the food, but is probably the 

 result of a slight derangement of the digestive organs, 

 not ordinarily noticed, but easily aggravated by certain 

 foods which ferment easily. Animals that are ailing are 

 very liable to bloat when turned on alfalfa pastures. 

 Alfalfa and clover are much more liable to produce bloat- 

 ing if wet with rain or dew, and especially hoar frost, 

 and animals are more apt to bloat if turned into the pas- 

 tures when very hungry, as they gorge themselves, and 

 the food is not properly masticated. Hence, cattle should 

 not be allowed to go hungry to the pastures. 



"It is generally believed by those who have had con- 

 siderable experience in pasturing clover or alfalfa, that 

 cattle and sheep are less liable to bloat if they have free 

 access to dry food, such as hay or straw. Common bloat- 

 ing, or hoove, occurs in animals having a compound 

 stomach and that chew the cud — ruminants, as they are 

 called. Of our common domestic animals, cattle and 

 sheep belong to this order. 



"One of the first symptoms noticed is that the animal 

 stops feeding, and remains lagging behind or stands by 

 itself. Rumination, or chewing of the cud, is suspended ; 

 the animal appears dull and listless, the back slightly 



