Winchester journal. [volume] (Winchester, Indiana) 1862-1863, 1862-11-21
Mich COWS IN FALL AND
WINTER

Tod after the birth OF a calf, is al
together an artificial process
Nature intended animals to yield
milk only while it should be re
cessary for the susienance OF the
young; but by long training. ar
tificial habits have been induced,
and the flow of milk is prolonged
for months, and even for year.
after the natural period has pass
ed. Partly for this reason, no
secretion Of the COW is more ca
silly affected by treatment of the
animal. Any arrangement OF
health, insufficient food, or bodily
discomfort, at once shows Its Ell
fects in the decreased quantity
and quality of the milk. 1t sho'd
also be borne in mind that the
contiual flow of milk beyond
the natural period is no small
drain upon the vital functions of
an animal, and this should be
counterbalanced by extra stimu-
lus in the form of good nourish-
ing food, and whatever care is
necessary to keep up the health
of the COW to the highest stand
ard.
At this season Of the year
change Of food is necessary
Long before the pastures are en-
tirely despoiled of verGure, the
grasses nipped by repeated frosts
lose much of their nutriment.-
Though cows may gather their
FL, IT Is OF poorer quality, and
the'yleld Of milk speedily suffers.
A daily allowance OF bran, shorts
or ground feed of rye and oats,
or two-thirds oats with one-third
corn, will supply the lack of
nourishment, and show itself,
with good interest added, in the
milk pail. This feed should be
vet before using. We prefer it
to feeding with hay, for the rea-
son that nouriShment, more than
bulk, is needed they can pick
up enough partly withered grass
to fill their stomachs. This ex-
ira allowance should not be de-
layed until the animal is suffer
ing from insufficient food. 1t Is
far easier to keep "a cow in good
condition, than to bring her up
after falling off.
Pumpkins are usually fed out
first, upon failure of paStures.--
If it be practicable to keep them
uniajured until later in the sea-
son, it would be better. They
come in best when dry hay and
stalks are the staple diet, and
something more succulent Is
craved and needed. It's best to
remove seed from pumpkins:
they are an active diuretic, and
many believe that they divert TO
urine fluids which would form
milk.
Any person who has been long
confined to a single article or two
OF food, say to salt beef and po-
tatoes, knows how the appetite
Graves a change. The greediness
with which cows lay hold of tur-
nips, mangel wurzels, or other
roots in winter, proves that they,
too, relish variety, and in the
case of healthy animals, appe-
title is a safe guide in the selec-
ton of food. Even &c roots were
lacking in nutriment, an occa-
sional allowance of them to cat
tie would be beneficial.
Observe strict regularity in the
time OF feeding. If meals are
regularly served, animals will pa
tiently wait the appointed time
otherwise, they Will be restless
and uneasy while looking for
supplies, and ravenous when fed.
The importance of comforta-
bic, we'll ventilated shelter for
mich cows is yet greatly under
rated, despite all that has been
written and said. A large part
of the food eaten is consumed in
furnishing warmth TO the animal
Thus, good shelter is equivalent
to large percentage of food
Besides the actual loss of food /