55 



NEW ENGLAND FARMER. 



Feb. 



"WINTER CARE OF STOCK. 



The change from the young herds-grass and 

 sweet clover of the fields, upon which cattle feed 

 just before going to their stalls for winter, con- 

 trasts strongly with the dry hay and corn stalks 

 upon which they are fed after they are tied up. The 

 change must considerably affect them, and there- 

 fore they should be brought to it gradually, by 

 feeding them once or twice each day with a fod- 

 ding of such dry food as they will eat, whether of 

 hay, corn fodder or unthreshed grain. When this 

 is done, no habit of the system is suddenly dis- 

 turbed, and the animal passes from the green, 

 juicy feed of the pasture to its dry fodder entire- 

 ly, without losing appetite or being checked in 

 growth. 



New milk cows, if treated in this way, will not 

 only yield a good flow of milk through the win- 

 ter, but if young, will increase in weight, if fed 

 liberally and systematically. Steers will perform 

 sufficient labor to pay their keeping, and grow 

 rapidly under the same circumstances. But in 

 order to secure these results, several things must 

 be observed, and among the first are 



Neatness and Kind Treatment. 



Without kind treatment, entirely aside from the 

 manner of feeding, the stock of the farmer may 

 grow and yield a fair product in labor, flesh or 

 milk, but it cannot be in that profitable propor- 

 tion which would be the result of kiiid and sym- 

 pathetic care, in connection with judicious feed- 

 ing. A sudden blow, accompanied by loud and 

 angry tones, will not be soon forgotten by the 

 horse or other animal. They have excellent mem- 

 ories with regard to certain things, as their ac- 

 /tions plainly indicate if the blow and loud voice 

 are likely to come the second time. If they re- 

 member injuries, why not gentle and kind treat- 

 ment? Even if the animal is refractory, such 

 management is a thousand times better than kicks, 

 blows and scoldings. A stock of cattle that will 

 shun their owner whenever he approaches, that 

 rush out of their stalls the moment they are lib- 

 erated, as though they expected a rap from a cud- 

 gel or the tingling lash, and that are always ready 

 to leap the fence or break down the bars to get 

 out of the way, — may be transformed into mild 

 and obedient animals by the influence of fair and 

 ;jenerous treatment. Under such a temperament 

 they will prove of far greater profit. 

 Neatness and Order. 



A practice prevails, to a great extent, of allow- 

 ing cattle to lie upon their droppings until they ac- 

 cumulated to a disgusting degree upon their sides 

 and thighs. This certainly cannot be healthful or 

 comfortable. When they range in the pasture 

 they are quite careful not to lie in the same place 

 the second time, and this keeps their hair clear, 



sleek and bright. We know that it is somewhat 

 difficult to prevent this, but it can be done by a 

 proper arrangement of the leanto floor, liberal lit- 

 tering or bedding, and a trifle of daily care. The 

 bedding performs a double duty, as it keeps the 

 animal warmer and more comfortable every way, 

 which promotes the production of milk, flesh or 

 fat. The bedding absorbs the liquids, keeps them 

 from the skins of the cattle, and they thus become 

 an essential item in farm economy. 



Importance of Regular Feeding. 



Under the head of order several things m?.y be 

 observed, but the most important relates to the 

 iime of feeding. The practice of throwing feed to 

 cattle at any time when the keeper happens to be 

 at the barn, and doing it at irregular intervals, is a 

 bad one. It keeps them in a constant state of 

 expectancy and excitement. If they are lying 

 down and chewing the cud of contentment, the 

 moment the keeper comes in sight the cattle rise 

 and attempt to hook each other, and the horses 

 neigh and paw as though in violent agitation. 

 And this scene occurs several times in the day, 

 unless the animals are actually eating when the 

 keeper approaches. 



A better way is to feed them systematically — 

 at regular hours each day. When this is done, 

 they will soon understand that they are to receive 

 nothing out of those hours, and will remain quiet, 

 even if the person who feeds them comes into 

 their presence every hour. Under such a system 

 the appetite is sharp, but as all are fed liberally, 

 no quarrelling takes place among them. 



Hayof an inferior quality should make the first 

 foddering in the morning, — as the cattle are then 

 supposed to be hungry, — and the last foddering 

 at night, when they are to remain many hours 

 without fresh feed. The other fodderings should 

 be in small quantities and continued for an hour or 

 two, and then the orts that remain before them 

 entirely raked away. 



Preparation of Fodder. 



Most New England farmers have more or less 

 corn fodder to be consumed. When this is prop- 

 erly cured and prepared, it ranks next in value to 

 our best English or upland hay. If allowed to 

 remain too late in the field and get black and 

 weather-beaten there, or if put away too green or 

 damp in the barn, it moulds badly and loses its 

 sweetness and nutriment. A good way to pre- 

 pare corn fodder — we mean every part of it, top- 

 pings, huts and husks — is to run it through the 

 hay cutter and mix with it its own bulk of cut hay 

 of the various qualities on hand ; throw the whole 

 into a compact pile, sprinkle w^ith water, add a lit- 

 tle salt and mix the whole with a fork. In two or 

 three days, if the barn is warm enough to prevent 

 freeziHg, the whole mass will be softened and may 



