Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1853-1862, 1858-10-21
The PernicfOus Influence of water and
Watery FOOd on Young Stock

WaEeEV ROOD on L0ulH 1aooAs
There ia too little attention paid to the feeding Of
Young stock, and we find frequently that many val
uahle animals are lost from diseases of the bowels,
which arise from no known cause. A French writer
notices this fact and observes that the assimilation
Of nourishing matters is in proportion to the energy
of the digestive passages; and if the digestive or
gans are relaxed by excess Of drink, or BY food
that contains more water than the animal needs,
then there is a loss Of growth, and also loss Of
time.
Animals drink only when they are thirsty, and
their own instinct is the best rule but the ignorant
feeder frequently endeavors force more water into
the young animal than it needs by mixing the food
which it likes with water, and thus exciting ii TO
drink more than il needs. IL may be noticed that q
great number Of very good COWS, which give large
quantity Of milk, poor nurses, and seldom nave
thrifty calves The reason Of this may be found IN
the fact that the calf which depends upon such
oow has TO swallow a large quantity Of water IN
which there is little nutriment before 1t can obtain
enough 10 satisfy its appetite The nutritve matter
floats on such large quantity Of water, that 1t can
not he assimilated and the water itself relaKes and
ioosens the aimentaTy channels so that they pertom
their functions imperfectly. The calf consequently
remains poor, its muscular system Is not filled out
and whilst its paunch is full its bones striking
through its skinin every direction.
The cause of this state is easily explained. The
stomach and the slimentary canal are dilated under
the pressure of the mass Of food which has been
swallowed. and they crOWO tie lungs consequently
the respiratory organs cannot be filed and are con-
strained in their action the ribs are bowed out uR-
der the weight of the intesnes the chest cannot de-
velop itself and the breast remains narrow and
badly shaped. The young animal thus raised Is al
Wsvs defective. calf will Sc dom be seen to drink
If allowed to suokle that is goodmi ker, even
where it is fed crushed grain meal Of any kind,
though water should be kept within its reach IN our
hot, dry climate.
1t may be remarked that calves are sometimes SUBJ
eet to darrhea or in the spring. this arises
solely from the watery nature of the food on which
their dams are fed for atths time the young grass
and clover contain very large proportion Of water,
and to obtain the nutriment required, vast guam
tity Of water has to he swallowed. The remedy in
ali such cases is to give drier food and which
is more nourishing in proportion to its bulk
Amongst hogs the effect Of this treatment is very
perceptibe and if we 20 into almost any barn yard
at the present time, the itters of young pigs will
be found in q shape which shows IN It they have
been improperly fed. hhilst the young pigs are
with the SOW, and she is fed reasonably wei, the
pigs are straight on the back, round, with bodies
and heads well proportioned; but, as soon as they
taken from their DAM they are fed the sWlll snd
dsh-Water of the house. which contains very large
proportion of water and the least possible quantity
of so i'd food the immediate consequences are tn Il
the belly of the pig blOats out and ngs down, the
muscle Of the hips and shou ders dwndle away, the
head looks as though it were too large 10 be carried
around with convenience or ease TO the animal; the
neck fades into bund Of tendons without any
muscle or flesh; the chest becomes rrOw and lean,
and the back is bumped up, We are very sure tn At
our readers will be able TO see any quantity Of this
kind Of animals in theirneighborhOOd and, Wher-
ever they are let them be put down specimens OF
the effects of too much water and too little food.
pig once let down in this way for two months Of the
time when he should be growing is decided loss TO
the breeder for not has he lost all the time and
food that the animal has already used mp but 1t will
take large quantity of food and considerable time
to bring the animal back into a condition and shape
that viii fit him to make the most Of the food on
which he is to be fattened for market. Feeders
should bear in mind that water is not food, though
necessary to enable the animal to convert food into
pork or beef-Mlchig0R Farmer.