Nebraska advertiser., 1862-11-01
FrOm the Iowa Homestead
Essay on the Management OF Stock,

VI Cd6Sies theFo ought 10 De q regular
system. The merceant in his bust,
ness is regulhr, or else too late he
finds a balance on the wrong side o
the ledger So the farmer would fine
the benefit of such a system. Farm.
ing is made up of details, and success
is in proportion to the mount of at.
t%ention given to it. This only is good
management, and, as in all things
there must be a beginning, good man.
agement has its starting point: First
a proper selection of breeding animals
with reference to the particular end in
view. There is perhaps no branch OF
agriculture that calls for more expert
ence, or sooner shows the effects oil
good management, than stock raising
and it will prove to the advantage OF
formers in this State to turn their at
t%ention more to thir subject-where
there is any quantity Of "free pas
ture," especially would it be p~roita-
bic. And even the "small farmers
must devote some time and attention
10 this business. But core and atten
ton are requisite for success. Grain
farming alone cannot pay, therefore
stock and its management must make
part of the business of farmers, and it
is necessary that they should possess
some general knowledge on the sub
ject. There seems to be a neglect in
providing sufficient shelter. We find
cattle standing shivering in the fence
coruer-shivering in the cold north
west wind, whilst their owners sit by
the fire wondering wnhy the COWS give
no milk, or the steers do not fatten.
Good and sufficient shelter should al
ways be provided, both for the com
fort of the animal, aud profit to the
owner; as cattle consume about one
third less food when kept in u warm
stable, and particularly is the differ
ence seen in fattening cattle. There
are many ways of making such shell
ter, according to the taste Ond fancy
of the individual. so that it is net
requisite to give any description of
buildings, OF sheds, for there is a full
range from a shed ''shingled nit
straw" to one costing hundreds. But
should by all means prefer to tie up.
cattle, and to use stanchiOns in the
place of chains or other fastenings.-
BY tieing up stock there is a chance
to discriminate in their food, and
have better control of the beasts !; and
| prefer stanchions, as the cattle do
not take up as much room as when
tied with a chain round the neck, and
the head is confined so as to prevent
much injury to each other by their
horns, and is the quickest and easiest
way.
For pasture, moderately rolling
prairie is better than perfectly level,
provided it is supplied with good water
natural streams are the best, as
they always afford a supply, although
artificial streams, when properly made,
answer every purpose; such as can be
made in most all sloughs by running
a mole ditcher in them, by which
springs can be made, saving the trou.
bic and expense of lifting water, and
in a large stock this is very consid-
able. Aud then stock can drink when
they please. There should always be
a full supply of salt kept accessible to
stock, both summer and winter
There ought always to be a pasture
fenced off, according to the wants of
the farm, even if there is plenty of
free PASTURE" for COWS and calves,
and any other stock thav IS wanted at
home. Then the farmer cab breed his
cows to any bull he chooses, and keep
his calves where be wants them, and
not spend his time riding over the
~nrairie after lost cattle. Many spend
enough time running after ''strays''
as would fence forty acres, in one
season. Our free pastures are too
large, and in many places farmers
must soon depend upon .sown pasture.
And when the tine comes for weaving
calves they have a pasture for them
With better feed than on the praHrie.
and where they cannot get away as
calves are very apt to stray, and make
trouble.
. Some pastures come earlier in the
: spring aud last longer in the fall
When stock is taken up for the vim
ter, the calves and young cattle should
= be separated from the older cattle
both for convenience of feeding, and
: protecting them from injuries, to which
: they are liable from being knocked
: around by older cattle. They neec
the best fodder for the first winter
and would make another division o
r the yearlinss from the rest, as they
would do very well on coarse hay
The cows need different care and fOUc
+ from work cattle, or fattening stock
: but as | do not propose to treat uPol
:. the management of a dairy, | viii
d merely say in reference to cows tina
J they need care at the time Of calving
q not too much oiiciousness, but a quie
; attention to their wants and welfare
II Il not often that they need asSis