Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1852-10-14
Cutting Fodder.

We believe there is economy in cutting
straw, stalks, and hay to feed neat stock,
and horses, arising from two sources.
The first and most important, is that of
securing the whole bulk of it to be eatenS
In the article of corn stalks, the most nu-
tritious portions, the large butt ends, are
always left uneaten, for the simple reason
that cattle are unable to mastcate them
These wasted portions of the stalks are ev-
identity the most nutritious-ior, from them
molasses can be extracted in great abund-
ance, while they cannot from the leafy
portions. In feeding stalks, there must
evidently be great gain in reducing these
pithy and nutritious ends to such COM
pass as will allow of mastication, Straw,
in its natural state, will not be eaten by
cattle till they are reduced by hunger to
the necessity Of feeding upon it then the
finer, leaiy and chaffy portions are selected,
while the great bulk of it is left unconsum-
ed BY cutting it fine and moistenlng it
with weak brine, it will not OILY be all con-
sumed, but highly relished. This is about
all clear gain. As much may uot be gain
ed by cutting hay, though this will depend
much upon the quality Of it.
Another source Of economy arising from
cutting food for cattle, is the more perfect
digestion secured by such course,
The advantages Of cutting hay for neat
stock will be seen by the following account
of an experiment, made with the hay cut
and uncut, taken from the Genesee Farmer.
The Farmer contains an account of four
experiments, all of which corroboratc the
view, that it not only lakes less hay to keep
a creature, but that it will improve upon it
much faster than on uncut hay.
This experiment was with two mich
COWS, four years old each. Trial COM
menced on the 9th of January, 1852 each
, COW being fed during the eight weeks trial
with 648 pounds of carrots. The trial was
to be made with at least two animals, as
, near alike in co ldition, age, &c, as posi-
=, BILE, the time Of trial to last eight weeks,
: divided into periods of two weeks each
: one animal to be fed with cut and tie other
: with uncnt hay-the feed Of each to be re-
l. versed at the expiration of two weeks, and
VI SO on alternately each two weeks during
a the trial.
h The weight of cut hay consumed in the
q eight vvoess woe 1,i60lbs. gain in the
n weight Of animals while kept upon it 1870
5 bs of milk given 438lbs. The weight
of the uncut hay was 1880; gain in the
: weight of the animals while kept on uncut
= hay was onty 30 lbs, of milk given All
ii lbs 1t will be seen that In this experiment
> there were ~ lbs more of Cut hay consum
VI ed than OF uncut. while the gain in the
weight of the animals while feeding upor
y it was 100 lbs. more than while feeding thC
It uncut, and the quantity of milk in favor OF
l. cut hay 81 lbs. In this case the expert
j. menter, Mr.. W. s. Lincoln, says:
: Some time before commencing this ex
e pertinent, | was feeding my stock wha
e would be called poor stock hay, with an al
C lowance Of roots commenced cutting
this hay for all my stock, Young and old
&c 10 head occupying me about an hou
e and half daily. Almost Simultaneous,
II with feeding the cut hay was an increase
e Of milk, very perceptible as it was miket
h into the pail. From day to day the mill
is increased SO, from the stock have de
I, scribed, as to require the substitution OF 81!
't quart for four quart pans, which had beef
't previously used, think am within bound
$, in saying the increase was over pint dali
y per COW, occasoned, to the best of M
* knowledge, solely by the use of cuthay."-
lie ~. y Rf0rmcr