MILCH COW FEEDING. 21 



these requisites are cannot be described in print, but our advice 

 to the farmer is to have in his employ a person who has given 

 the question considerable attention for a term of years. The 

 troughs should always be kept clean, and all food not eaten 

 removed after the regular interval for feeding has elapsed. As 

 regards the droppings, Professor Henry says nothing else gives 

 such an excellent idea of the progress of the fattening. "While 

 they should never be hard, they should be thick enough to 

 1 pile up,' and have that unctious appearance which indicates a 

 healthy action of the liver. There is an odor from the drop- 

 pings of well fed steers known and quickly recognized by 

 every good feeder. Thin droppings and those with a sour 

 smell indicate something wrong in the feed yard. The conduct 

 of the steer is a further guide in marking the progress of fatten- 

 ing. The manner in which he approaches the feed box; his 

 quiet pose while ruminating, and audible breathing when lying 

 down, showing the lungs cramped by the well-filled pouch; the 

 quiet eye which stands full from the fattening socket; the oily 

 coat all are points that awaken the interest, admiration and 

 satisfaction of the successful feeder." 



Milch Cow Feeding. 



There has been a considerable amount of literature published General remarks, 

 respecting milch cow feeding. If one pursues the same a start- 

 ling fact is apparent, viz., much remains to be done before the 

 entire question may be brought down to a practical and reliable 

 basis. There are so many elements to be considered, such as 

 the individual characteristics of the animal under observation, 

 and the fluctuation of the market price of the foods used. The 

 main object in view being milk, the cow must receive those ele- 

 ments which would tend to increase this milk flow and yet sus- 

 tain the animal in the best possible conditions. If this feeding- 

 is pushed to an excess, a reaction is sure to follow which will 

 destroy all the possibilities of profitable feeding. 



However, it must be admitted, that in the entire field of in- 

 vestigations in feeding cattle, there are but few instances where 

 there is a greater harmony in results than that relating to milk 

 production. Just to what extent certain foods are milk pro- 



