230 RURAL VETERINARY SECRETS 



THE SECRET OF PRODUCING MORE MILK FROM 



COWS, MORE BEEF FROM CATTLE, MORE 



MUTTON FROM SHEEP AND MORE 



PORK FROM SWINE 



The problem is best solved by taking for example a milch cow, 

 place her on ordinary dry stable food for three or four months, then 

 turn her out to pasture for the same length of time under equal environ- 

 ments and circumstances. Then compare the yield and general condi- 

 tions of health and you will find yourself from 40 to 60 per cent ahead 

 financially in favor of the natural grazing while on pasture. This is 

 accounted for in many different ways ; first, when the cow can partake 

 of natural food and water at liberty she will govern the supply and 

 demand of the system herself. If she has taken too much of one kind 

 of grass or herbs, she will seek nature's remedy to counteract it with- 

 out delay. Secondly, should any of the vital organs for some reason 

 or other become disordered, there appears to be a natural instinct in 

 animals to seek their own remedy. Every plant, shrub or tree, has its 

 special physiological action upon the animal system and the cow seems 

 to know which one of them suits her case. In highly nourished animals 

 under artificial surrounding there is a frequent sluggishness of the liver 

 due to hyper-nutrition and the constant feeding of one kind of food 

 for a long period. This leads to congestion of the liver and sometimes 

 to inflammation or other disorders if not noticed by the owner and 

 counteracted in time. The result will invariably be a considerable 

 loss of the milk yield and sometimes drying her up entirely. These con- 

 ditions do not happen when the cow is on pasture no matter how rich 

 the food, as the cow will seek to help herself. In this country the 

 dandelion (or buttercup) cuts an important figure in pastures. It is 

 one of the most eft'ective liver regulators for herbivorous animals. 

 Some of us have watched a cow dig into the earth and eat clay. This 

 is an indication of a sour stomach or indigestion and she is seeking 

 nature's remedy to counteract it. The writer could enumerate many 

 of these advantages if space would permit, but will say that every intel- 

 ligent and successful feeder watches the needs of his stock and supplies 

 their wants while stable feeding. For this purpose a stock tonic which 

 contains the ingredients of which his stock are deprived, while confined 

 to the stable and deprived of God's green grass, is absolutely necessary 

 in order to keep up the yield, general health, and prosperity of the ani- 

 mal body. The writer has made this subject a special study and has 

 found that a simple tonic which can be added to the regular daily food 

 ration with the object of supplying the above wants and keeping farm 



