Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1853-02-24

| am induced to give your readers the
result of my observation, in hope that they
being forewarned, may avoid The disastrous
results which | am about to record
The feeding of pregnant animals is a part
OF the farmers duty, r curing all the judy
Inent and circumspection that he can clll
t' his assistance. As a general rule, the
dam during he period Of CESSATION, should
be 81 ~ N>cal %
iiissva lle9NHys That the nervous
organization is in a MOST excited state. and
susceptible in the highest degree it is
therefore operated upon by almost anything
out of the usual couase. For instance, ov-
er work or sudden alarm, is frequently at.
tended with the most unfortunate results
The SAINT also is the fact with IA change Of
food, aud the substitution of some kinds is
particularly, dangerous. To illustrate this.
| will relate the misfortune of IA ~neighbor,
a breeder of French Merinosheep. lie laid
in a large stock of potatoes, being unable
lowing to the drought in this country t.
obtain his usual supply Of carrots, ruta la,
gas, &C., His idea was to feed his cattle
and sleep with potatoes, keeping his other
roots fm his calves and lambs when they
shonld require them. With this intention,
his orders were to feed tbs ewes coming in
during November and December with cut
potatoes.
The sheep seemed to be doing well on
Ill, r,nJ ...I c,, ,..l,ol 49,. I,.rl,
but it was remarked, that though large and
fat, they were quite weak and wanting Vi
taIIty requiring much assistance from the
shepherd. This difficulty increased day by
day, ill the lambs, though still large, were
born dead or died Immediately af,er birth
No cause could be alleged for their NOR
tally. This state of things continued till
seven or eight lambs were lost. Our brains
were racked to the utmos to account for
this trouble, at last, we were forced to the
conclusion that the potatoes must be the
:" root of all evil" As that was the only
difference in the treatment since last year,
when all did wei! A change was at once
made, and carrots substituted for potal oes.
Also a little stimulant was recommended
The effect was as favourable as could be de-
sired, and much more than was expected;
tor after this alteration in feed a few days,
the lambs became possessed of the ir usual
vitality.
4 mentioned cheese eir4sA~.nec- TO
fr end, a physician, who tellssme that he
has been aware of The pernlcious effects of
raw potatoes for a long time, and he him.
self once had experience of it, in the case
of his own COW.
My idea IS, but it may be mistaken one,
that raw potatoes, though good feed for fat
and store cattle, owing to the great quanlI-
ty of starch aud mucllaglnous matter, they
contain. are too heavy and cold to sustain
fetal life that circulation being rather
sluggish requires ii warmer and more SUM
ulalIng food.
The feeding of ruta bagas to ewes about
to Lamb, though generally considered a
most safe food, Is not unattended with dan-
ger and in fact, by the best breeders IN
England, they are led IN limited quantities,
or dispensed with altogether at that time
The danger is not generally to the eve, as
| have never heard of a greater loss from
THIS cause than three To five per cent, but
have heard of as much DIS eighteen or twet-
ty per cent. loss OF the lambs. The posi-
mortem examination of the lambs that lad
Ihns died, exhibit The stomach aud m,e.l,ues
,u,charged with water The disease is well
known to shepherds, as water beiIied."
Again, | knew of a pen of Southd WIS
taken from the flock and as an experiment.,
fed upon the sprouts that are rubbed of OF
malt. These 'pron's seemed To be IA good
as well as economical food the sheep con.
unacd to all appearance, in good thriving
condition, and the experiment was thus far
most encouraging.
The Landing season coming on, three
nut of five ewes died. Not that the la abs
were 81 large or the dams SO fat, but thar
the yves though in good condition, were IN
81 relaxed a state that they had not muscr-
lar power for natural labor. Two ewes IN
i%ambing inverted the uterus, and though
they had the best attention it was ct no a,-
all. the sprouts no doubt having for weeks
been acilug "a ,ahersNalenl.. relaxing aad
Itu'iClng IL W q very INV state.
From hat | have written above. i; an.
pears that to produce ii fine animal. is not
a m liter OF Chance. 1t Is not done by pro.
nlscu"us'y feeding qnanlItle, Of goo! food,
or sill less by letting your animal take ,helr
chance with short commons; for ,honp!
you may, aud probably Will have lambs, they
will he starvilugs. aud IL, feed viii ever
overcome the first want of substance.
Bat to produce an animal of any breed,
that will do credl, TO the brepde', requires
the closest Determinations The NEST care.
ful attention, aud the best Judgment that
can be brought to bear IN the subject. In
fact, 1t opens a field for he display of all
the praclical and scientific knouledge that
the most intelligent husbaudnan can call 10
his and u
TO the excellent observations of our cor
respondent above we viii add thai climate
or the season of the year also has its effect
upon certain articles Of food. For Instance
had the potatoes been very mealy and of a
first rate quality, aud ted IN September or
October, or the Iastof April or early IN Nav,
when there was no frost. we do not thlIk
they would have been near SO Injurious
Pregnant ANIMALS, however, should be fed
sparinglv with raw roots of any kind during
frosty weather and in fact, except To grown
swine we are not much in favor Of ieedmo
them to ANIMALS IN any condition during Sc.
we're winter weather. Grain or meal with
good hay, IL much preferable.