Errors in Rearing Calves and Raising Stock. 



Prof. James McCall, Lecturer on Anatomy and 

 Physiology, in the Veterinary College, Edinburgh, writes 

 substiiutiaUy as follows in regard to some practices which 

 are probably more common in the country where he re- 

 sides than in this country, but are common enough here 

 to make it worth while to let those who aro guilty of 

 them know what one, whoso opinion is well entitled to 

 respect, thinks in regard to these objectionable prac- 

 tices. 



The first practice which Prof. McCall notices and con- 

 demns, is that of breeding in and in, which must be the 

 consequence of keeping one bull more than one year 

 upon a farm. Ho says that the eficcts of breeding " in- 

 and-in," all ages and in all animals, has invariably 

 been the detorioratiori of that breed in external con- 

 foimation and internal organism, and the consequent 

 predisposing to certJiin diseases, among which justly 

 may be claimed diarrhtea and dysentery. 



Another practice noticed and condemned is that of 

 preventing calves from sucking their mothers. This 

 should be done for a few diiys at least, and when not 

 done, the injury to the calf is made greater if it geta 

 any other milk than that of its mother. Nature's pro- 

 visions in this cnse cannot be improved upon, nor inter- 

 fered with in the least without doing mischief. In the 

 new-born calf there is a peculiar, greenish, pasty-like 

 substance which lines the whole of the intestines, and 

 which from its resemblance to the juice of the poppy 

 has been called meconium. For the expulsion of this, 

 nature has provided most wisely and efficiently, by im- 

 buing the first two or three milkings niter parturition, 

 with a peculiar principle *' of a thin serous nature," 

 which is tormed ooloatrum. This colostrum acts as a 



jr^^nlln wtii^iilnnl _p.n.l_j^ui^««agp..jjP^.*A».- ^fp^T^n^o ^j^ 



the young calf, and causes au immediate expulsion of 

 the meoonium previously alluded to. " But as the 

 Ayrshire calves are not allowed to suck their mothers, 

 neither in general do they got hor milk, but that of an- 

 other cow or cows which does nut contain this colostrum 

 or purgative principle ** Hence follows an undue re- 

 tention of the meconium, with a moro or loss obstinate 

 constipation, and sometimes a retention of the uripo. 

 " This conditicm is succeeded by violent diarrhoea and 

 dysentery, which cither ends in the death of the ani- 

 mal, or leaves it ever after very susceptible on the least 

 exciting cause to diarrhoea and dysentery." 



Another practice noticed and condemned by Prof. 

 McCall, is one which we fear is but too common in this 

 country, os well as in others — the practice, namely, of 

 feeding calves only twice a day. On this point he says: 



" Surely it is against all renson to suppose that the 

 stomach of a calf can be distended to its fullest extent 

 twice a day without producing dangerous results. 1 he 

 efiects of an overloaded stomach moniing and night, 

 moro especially with an adulternted fluid— for such wo 

 can only term skimmed milk when it is substituted for 

 new milk — connot fail to lead to a weakening of that 

 stomach, by the undue dilutution of its weak muscular 

 walls, thereby rendering it unablo, speedily and effec- 

 tively, to contract u|>on its contents. If the stomach is 

 weakened, the powers of digestion and assimilation must 

 likewise symprrthizo ; and the effects of these operating 

 causes ui)on an already wenkencd constitution, from in- 

 herent debility produced by breeding in-and-in, cannot 

 fail to lay that foundation, and does in fact lay that 

 foundation, which, upon a sufficient exciting cause being 

 given, is sure to develop itself in diarrhfca and dysen- 

 tery, under which the animal dies." 



The way to escape or prevent all those unpleasant 

 consequences, which Nature has attached to the viola- 

 tion of her laws, is, according to Prof. M., to avoid the 

 error, mal-praotice, or transgression of law from which 

 they originate. Let each farmer cross his cattle with 

 the herd of another fanner at some considerable dis- 

 tance—that is, with stock which have had no previous 

 connection with his own stock. Let him alter the cus- 

 tom of roaring calves, and allow them to suck the 

 mother for a time atlonst; and then feed them spar- 

 "ngly from three to six times a day, by which means 



their digestion and growth will be more healthy. To 

 the objection that this mode of management would 

 cause expense and trouble. Prof. M. replies that vete- 

 rinarians have to prevent and cure disease, and not to 

 balance the farmer's lodger, or save him trouble. 



Swine and Dairy Cows. 



To your issue of June 23, a " Nkw Bkoinnfr," at 

 Owego, N. Y., wishes to know "what breed of large 

 swine is best to cross with the Suffolk," and remarks, 

 " I suppose the Berkshire is good, but I confess to a 

 prejudice to blaok hogs " I would answer, that if he 

 wishes a hog that would meet the whims of his prejudice, 

 he must be himself the best judge of what would suit, 

 but if he wants a fair sized bog that will feed profita- 

 bly, mature young, make better pork and finer hams 

 than any other breed, I say take the pure breed Berk- 

 shire, and leave the erostiing of the SufTuik's for those 

 who have time and taste for fancy experiments. In 

 the Berkshire, the color is not akin deep; in dressing, 

 the scald removes an outer scurf, under which is a 

 whiter skin than I ever saw on any other breed of 

 hogs ; the black skin that is found in dressing the 

 black, or black and white landpike, is nob to be found 

 in the pure Berkshires. 



In regard to "dairy cows, all things considered," I 

 should expect to get the best for the least money ex- 

 pended, t)y breeding thorough bred short horn bulls, 

 of good milking families, to good milkers of our com- 

 mon dairy cows. I have got cows, in this way, that 

 have made from twelve to twenty pounds butter per 

 week, seldom getting a jmor cow from such breeding. 

 E. Cornell. Jthaca, N. Y. 



P. S — I have several families of Burham or Short- 

 horned cows, of milking families, which I am breeding 

 for dairy cows, but shall have none for sale for the 

 present, 1 wish to test them thoroughly. It is not 

 economy for a " new beginner " to incur the great ex- 

 pense of getting thoroughbred Short- horned cows to 

 make up his dairy, but it is economy to use a thorough 

 bred Short-horned bull. 



" Effect of Climate on Wool." . 



In the Co.'Qent., on page 265 of vol. 13, there is an 

 artiole with the abovetiUe, qu oted f^ om the__Pre8iile/ii^ 

 of Franklin Cullege, Tenn. ; and io'order to show the 

 other side to the same question, I would like to quote 

 from the Patent Office Report for 1857, on page 66, 

 et seq. 



" That the climate of the northern states is moro 

 favorable to the growth of fine wool than the south- 

 west, repeated experiments are disproving. Although 

 it is an admitted law of nature, that the covering of 

 an animal will adapt itself in a great degree to the 

 climate in which it abides ; yet this does not prove that 

 fine wool cannot be grown in a warm climate any more 

 than that fine furs, or fine feathers cannot be found 

 there, for many animals bearing the finest quality of 

 furs, inhabit the most southern portions of our coun- 

 try ; such ns the beaver, otter, muskrat and flying 

 squirrel i they are all found in Texas, as well as in 

 the Canadas. The Merino sheep has been bred for 

 ages as far south as the thirty-sixth degree north lati- 

 tude, in Asia; and we are informed that there is no 

 perceptible difference in the fineness of their fleece 

 from that of the flocks of Kurope. We have also the 

 testimony of the head of the great Lowell Manufac- 

 turing Company, who has purchased extensively from 

 all parts of the United States, that " wherever there 

 are good shepherds, there is sure to be found good 

 wool " The veritable samples of wool grown by an 

 eminent sheep farmer of Tennessee (Mr. Mark Cock- 

 rill), are said to have exceeded in fineness those selent- 

 ed from the best flocks of Europe, by an agent of our 

 government; and Mr. Cockrill attributes its superior 

 quality to the climate of that region. Whether Mr. 

 Cockrill is correct or not in his opinion, the fact is in- 

 controvertible, that the climate has worked no dete- 

 rioration in the quality of the wool, in the many years 

 he has given wool-growing his attention. But whitt 

 ever dilfereDce of opinion may exist on this subject, it 

 IB established beyond doubt that wool grown in a 

 warm climate has a longer and softer Jibre than that 

 produced in the colder countries^ although there may 

 be no difi'erence in the fineness of either, and the 

 manufacturer will give a decided preference to the 

 longer and softer stnple " 



The italics are my own, but I give the extract 

 merely to show that there are yet two sides to the 

 question. President Fanning has tikken one side, and 

 Mr. Patterson the other. I will add, that hII the pro- 

 ducers of fine wool at the south, are united in the as- 

 sertion that the climatodoesno/ deteriorate the quality 

 of fine wool, although this differs from an apparent 



law of nature. There is just as much difference be- 

 tween the followers of Liebig's theories of ** special 

 manures," and the experience and practice of Lawes 

 and others of that ilk. 



Probably the key to the solution of this question 

 may be found in the Lowell man's remark, that 

 *' wherever there are good shepherds, there is sure to 

 be found good wool." Be Azro A. Nicbolb. 



Stretches In Sheep. 



Can you give me thrtmgh the Thb Cultivator, a 

 remedy for the so-cnlled stretches in sheep. I have 

 tried several remedies recommended in agricultural 

 journals, but without effect. I want some one to give 

 me a reliattte and effectual recipe for its cure, if there 

 is one. J. A. MoRRison. Sullivan Co , N. Y. 



In The Cultivator for 1858. pnge 159, A. O. Web- 

 ster, of Union Mills, Ind., stales that after having tried 

 a number of remedies to no effect, and having lust 

 several sheep, he has since cured those of his flock 

 who have been affected with this disease, by giving 

 them red pepper tea. Take two or three pods, pub 

 them with water and steep, and when cool give two 

 doses a day, if the first does not afford relief. 



Ticks and Lice on Sheep and Cattle. 



Open the wool on the back of the sheep, from the 

 head to the hips, and strew in a tea spoon of yellow 

 snuff, mostly on the neck and shoulders. This treat- 

 ment has proved effectual with me, in removing ticks 

 from sheep, and it is easier and safer than washing 

 with a solution of tobacco. For lice on cattle, mix 

 yellow snuff with lamp oil, and rub on where they will 

 not lick it. I have known several calves killed by 

 washing them in strong tobacco water. A Readeb* 

 WUltno Valley. R. I. 



— .-•-. — 



On. Cheese IVXaltina:. 



Eds. Co. Qkxt.— After twenty-five yean' experler.ce 

 In the builneea of the dairy, we having aiwayi kept ft-om 

 t^venty to twonty-five cowh, 1 think I can give a very 



put iu the ruuiiet, Recording to the itlrength, enough to 

 ■et it. If it doei not ect it in fifteen minutes, add a little 

 more. When the curd haa aet, lake a long wooden knife 



iiml out through the curd, both ways, carefully. Let it 

 Bland about five minutes, then stir with tlie hand careful, 

 ly. Place the strainer over the tub, and dip oil' the whey. 

 Now dip in pans, and eet in a cool place over night. 



In the morning run up your curd in the same wav, and 

 after cutting, put in last night's curd after draining, and 

 squeeze verv carefully with the hand. Din off one pail 

 of wluy, :mil heat Kcalding hot ; if not scalded alike, heat 

 more aii'l Hill' euiiiiiuialiy. Then place a ladder over an* 

 other till) witii a Ktraiuer and basket, and dip the curd 

 and whey iiilii the strainer. l)o not let It settle together. 

 Then remove it back to the tub. and mix one pint of best 

 salt. If sage is wished, three tablesnounfuls is a plenty 

 if dried and sifted. Then put in the hoop, and It is ready 

 for the press. Turn In four or live hours, and let it re- 

 main until the next mornini; , Hun ^'reaae with lard. If 

 the cheese Is large, bamlafi' « Ij. h -^read enough. Keep 

 the clieese room darlt d;tj>, an.l lai^e tlie window nights. 



If the lady of Michigan will try this receipt, we think 

 she will have better success, if she takes good care of them 

 for four weeks. Mas. S. Johnson. Scliui/ler Falls, N. Y. 



3VIr. Hunt's Co'w. 



Qbntlemah Bditobs— In your issue of May 12lb, I 

 noticed some remarks from your Ithaca correspondent, 

 In which he seems to imply (or I imply it for him) that 

 the statement given of the products of my cow for the 

 last season, were rather steep, and wishes a statement in 

 regard to her ; and as you have requested me to comply 

 with your correspoudent's request, I most cheerfully 

 do so. 



And first, she calved along the first days of April. As 

 the calf was taken away when fjur or five days old, we 

 commenced making butler on the eighth. Her feed was, 

 in addition to hay and grass, her own milk, with just bran 

 enough put In to make her eat It, She gave milk during 

 the whole year, and the amount of butter made from 

 April 8, 1868, to April 1, 1869, was as follows ; 



.April, 41 lbs, October, 45 lbs. 



May,'. 60 " November 38 " 



Jun 



7* 



December, 30 



January, 211 



February, 26 



March, 23 



July 66 



August, 60 



Beptember, 49 



Total, "8 lbs, 



I can only trace the family of this cow back to 183 

 Her grnnddam was raised by .loi-eph M. Ohafee, a farnv 

 of this town, and 1 bought her of him in l<i30. then seven 

 years old. I soon found that she was an excellent cow ; 

 and frequently, when I sold the butter and weighed it, I 



