St. Cloud Democrat. [volume] (Saint Cloud, Stearns County, Minn.) 1858-1866, 1863-12-31
QUESTION IN REGARD TO cows

ey STRAW D. Vneat STRAW; o. Dean
talks with ut the pods.
AQUEsT1ON IN REGARD TO cows
A friend asks-"How long should
lows 60 dry?" The question involves
many points. If it is considered Who'll.
yin reference to the preservation Of
he life and strength of the>cow AMI the
production Of offspring of~;gorous con.
,titutions, we might say, as general
answer, she should go dry from two to
hree months before calviny. But ever
IN this view, much depends on keeping.
\ COW if well kept can be MIXED for
longer period without injury to her.
self Or calf, than fshe were kept poor
iy. A full supply Of nutritious food
furnishes the elements Of milk without
much draught on the tissues Of the
cows body. On the other hand, COWS
which in farmers parlance run to
milk" may be made poor, even their
bones weakened, and if pregnant, their
calves rendered small and weak, BY
rrotracting the milking period, and
keeping them on scanty and innutri-
tious fare, in connection with ill-treat-
ment otherwise.
1t ha, been said that the milking
habit in cows is to great deg:ee in
luced by cultivation, as when left to
shemselves for several generations,
'hey cease to yield more than is barely
necessary to sustain their calves for a
short time from their birth, or until
hey can live on other food. No doubt
this is true to certain extent but We
see tina. there is great difference in
COWS, naturally, both in regard to their
'|aily yield of milk under the same
treatment and circumst ,nces, as we'll as
the length Of time they continue in
., 'ilk. Those which give the least milk
.2Hight of course be MIXED for longer
,,,::mo without injury to themselves or
..'.IIves but generally speaking such
v'ows will 60 dry for some time in spite
II" F:all efforts to the contrary, while great
ii: .4ilkers under fair feeding are often
''1Eied with Cif6culty, even for the peri
'aarequired for the support Of their own
IS @atem and that of their offspring.
Again !; the objects for which COWS
arve kept are somewhat various. The
q AN who has but one COW, generally
t,'aaPs that one wholly for her milk.
''ses~aots to get it if possible from his
e:sn ooow. lie cares nothing for her
ny, rs be mover rears one, and the
lasss''> y Of the COW is Of less conse
.Ia.sr ce than a constant supply Of milk.
EHerything is subordinate to this, and
;den tho COW is worn out another
likes her place. Where COWS are kept
wholly for the sale of milk, a course
imilar to the above is sometimes pur-
~ued.
But where COWS are kept for the
manufacture OF butter and cheese, the
system of management is different. 1t
is not desired to have much milk in
cold weather as NEITHER butter nor
cheese can generally be made to advan-
,age in large scale except under a
mild Representatives. tie object is
70 have all the COWS ''come in" near
tho commencement Of the butter or
cheese making season, and they are
usually dried up at its close, or at the
recurrence of cold weather. By dis
course the COWS do not require 50 high
feeding as they would if MIXED longer.
Good hay, in connection with proper
shelter and care, will be sufficient to
:ustain them in fair condition. Their
constitutions will not be impaired. their
calves will be born strong and healthy,
and all the essential requisites Of a
thrifty and profitable stock secured.
We might say, then, that where it is
Intended to rear stock, aud the keep
ing of tho COWS is not superior to good
hay in winter and grass in summer, both
The COWS and THAR progeny will do bet
Ter to go dry not less than two months.
-BOst0n CaIltiUaE0r.