Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1858-11-04
fatuer's department.
WATER FOOD ON YOUNG STOCK.

WATER FOOD ON YOUNG STOCK.
There is too little attention paid to the
feeding of young stock, and we find frequent
ly that many valuable 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 il proportion to the en-.
ergy of the digestive passages, and if the di.
gestive organs are relaxed by an excess of
drink, or by food thai contains more water
than the animal needs, then there is loss
of time.
Animals drink only when they are thirsty,
and their own instinct is the best rule; but
the ignorant feeder frequently endeavors to
force more water in the young animal than
it needs by mixing the food which it likes
with water, and thus exciting it to drink
more than it needs. 1t may be noticed that
a very great number of good COWS, which
give large quantity of milk, are poor nur-
ses, and seldom have thrifty calves. The
reason of this may be found in the fact that
the calf which depends upon such COW,
has to swallow large quantity of water in
which there is little nutriment, before it can
obtain enough to satisfy its appetite. The
nutritive matter floats on such large GUAM
tity of water, that it cannot be assimilated,
and the water itself relaxes and loosens the
alimentary channels so that they perform
their functions impelfectly. The calf con-
sequently remains poor, its muscular system
is not filled out, and while its paunch is full,
its bones are sticking through its skin in
every direction.
The cause of this state is easily explained.
The stomach and alilnentary canal are dila-
ted under the pressure of the mass of food
which has been swallowed, and they crowd
the lungs; consequently the reposiratory or
gaus cannot be filled, and are constrained in
their action, the ribs are bowed out under
the weight of the intestines, the chest can
not develop itself, and the breast remains
narrow, and badly shaped. The young ami
NAL thus raised is always defective. A calf
will seldom be seen to drink if allowed to
suckle cow that is good mixer, even
where it is fed with crushed grain or meal
of any kind. Though water should be kept
in its reach in our hot dry climate.
1t may be remarked that calves are somc-
times subject to diarrhoa or scours in the
Spring; this arises solely from the watery
nature of the food on which dams are fed ;
for at this time, the young grass and clover
contain very large proportion of water, and,
to obtain the nutriment required, a vast
quantity of water has to be swallowed. The
remedy, in all such cases, is to give drier
food, and one which is more nourishing in
proportion to its bulk
Amongst hogs the effect of this treatment
is very perceptible, and if we 60 into almost
any barnyard at the present time, the litters
of young pigs will be found in shape which
shows that they have been improperly fed.
Whilst the young pigs are with the SOW, and
she is fed reasonably we'll, the pigs are
straight on the back, round, with bodies and
heads we'll propoftioned; but as soon as
taken from their dam, they are fed with the
swill and dishwater of the house, which con-
tains very large proportion Of water, and
the least possible quantity of solid food the
immediate consequences are, that the belly
of the pig bloats oat, and hangs down, the
muscles of the hips and shoulders dwindle
away, the head looks as though it we're too
large to be carried around with convenience
or ease to the animal the neck fades into q
bundle of tendons without any muscle or
flesh the chest becomes narrow, and lean,
and the back is bumped ups I'VE are very
sure that our readers will be able to see any
quantity of this kind of animals in their
neighborhood, and wherever they are, let
them be, put down as specimensof of the effects
of too much water and too little food. A
pig once let down in this way for two months
of the time when he should be growing, is a
decided loss to the breeder, for not only has
he lost all the time and food that the animal
has already used up, but it will take large
quantity of food, and considerable time to
bring the animal back into condition and
shape that will fit him to be made 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 en-
able the animal to convert food into pork or
eef.-Michigan Farmer.
FATTENING HOGS AND MANURE.
To give hogs start, when first put up for