336 AMERICAN CATTLE. 



the COW as possible. If the fetus be large, it will detract from 

 her milk production, which cannot be afforded, as the calf when 

 born is worthless, and must be immediately sacrificed to obtain 

 the milk for use. 



The dairy once established, the manner of keeping the cows 

 comes next under consideration. For summer feeding, the 

 metliod has already been given in our previous pages on the 

 summer food of ordinary dairies. (See Soiling.) But the winter 

 keeping is a different matter, and of this we shall go somewhat 

 into detail. In treating of this, as all sale milk dairies are kept 

 in the vicinities of populous places, we assume that land is dear, 

 and winter forage bears corresponding prices. The dairyman 

 may not be able to grow all his own hay, or straw, and may 

 have to purchase it. He may raise his own roots, which he 

 should do, if he feeds the article; and his grain, or mill-feed, he 

 must, to a greater or less extent, purchase. He must also give 

 to his cows that kind of food which will produce the greatest 

 quantity of good milk, and prepare it in such a manner as to do 

 its utmost in that production. Therefore he must, or ought to, 

 cook it. 



COOKING FOOD. 



We have given much thought to this subject, — and some little 

 observation, although we have not personally applied the cooking 

 process to cattle feeding. We are, however, happy to again 

 avail ourselves of the authority of Mr. Stewart. 



We so fully accord with his conclusions, that we at once adopt 

 his views, which we most opportunely find in the "Report of the 

 Commissioner of Agriculture," for the year 1865, made to the 

 Congress of the United States, as being more germain to our 

 purpose than anything we can suggest, or find elsewhere. It is 

 equally applicable to fattening cattle for the shambles, as for 

 dairy cows, and may be referred to in connection with our 

 remarks on the subject in a previous chapter. 



