Gallipolis journal. [volume] (Gallipolis, Ohio) 1837-1919, 1868-01-16
,funrrs Department.
rFroy, the American Stock Journal
Feeding Dairy Cows in Winter
RY JOS. W. PATTON.


BY JOS. W. PATTON.
Cows should now receive constan
.ttent,on Dry, warm stables ar
mst,ers of prime Importance. If tn
barn il not already tight, it shoult
- made so before extreme colo
wsotber sets in. A few dollars laid
ont in shingles and boards in stop
nino creveces, will be much better
Economy than in buying extra food
Comfortable stabling will make diff
ference of five dollars in the expense
of wintering q COW. A tight barr
saves one fourth of the fodder. You
can reckon the money it will save
YOU, by the value of the fodder now
stored for winter provisions.
Gentle treatment is also very i'm
portant matter in the care of COWS
Two points are to be kept in view In
determining the most profitable food
for milk cows. First, to keep up the
strength and status of the animal, and
secondly to promote the largest pro-
duction of milk. 1t is possible to
stimulate and overburden the lacteal
secreting organs, so as, while pro
ducing a large flow of milk, to re-
duce the strength of the COW, and
ultimately lessen the supply. Slim
ulus is not all that is wanted, but,
also, sound and permanent health
and strength, soith continuous prodae
tion.
Dairy cows well wintered are some
times said to be half summered, and
at the latter half of the winter sea-
son, COWS require their status to be
well kept up. The great point is
always to keep up the thrift, which
does by no means imply that they
must be fed to the standard of TAX
ing on fat. We observe brewers
grains are fed largely by many of
our milk men, and we incline to the
belief that to feed COWS wholly on
them is injurious. The immediate
effect is undoubtedly largely to pro
duce milk, but our observation is
that the COWS do not thrive on them,
but soon run down, and are sold, to
make room for others, so as to keep
up a certain supply of milk, which
the former often is under contract
to furnish during the winter months.
True economy consists in such a
management of a milk dairy as will
enable the farmer to have a regular
supply of milk. without interfering
with the health of his animals. If
brewers grains. were fed occasional
ly, and in connection with ground
corn and oats, to keep up the status
of :he COW, they probably would be
found very valuable 1t is their use
in large quantities, and alone, that
may be injurious.
We have the report of an expert
ment made by a careful farmer to
test the relative value of several
kinds of food for milk COWS, with the
following general result; three
pounds of carrots equal to one
pound of hay. This would make
three tons of carrots equal to one ton
of hay e., for producing milk; but
for fattening purposes we would
place the carrot nearer upon par
with the hay. This also is true of it,
that it yields larger crops than the
potatoe, is more nutritious, is better
adapted to the climate than ruta- baga
or turnips, can be more readily and
better kept through the winter, and
is more easily prepared for feeding.
as it does not require boiling or
steaming, unless it be for swine
We sometimes meet in our exchang-
es, with various receipts for coloring
made butter rich golden
hue, like grass made butter; but we
believe the best way to accomplish
this is by feeding the COWS on good
orange carrots, and leave to them the
work of coloring the butter.
Plain bran or ship stuff is one of
the very best kinds of food to in
crease milk. Why, we do not know.
1t is notfattening. A steer could be
fattened on bran alone, and COW, if
ed on the best of hay and bran alone,
night fall off in her yield, unless her
strength and condition were kept up
oy Indian meal or some other strong
'ood. If there is anything in which
here seems to be no strength, it Is
,ran-the mere hull of wheat. 1t is
lot stimulating, like brewers grains,
md can certainly do no harm, if it
loes no good; and yet any farmer
Who will make the experiment will
lnd-or, at least, we have found
hat COW being otherwise kept in
proper condition, her yield of milk
will be very considerably increased
~ giving her. twice a day, feed of
oure bran. The fact is patent, al.
'hough we are not able to explain it,
Ii there is any one article. which,
While keeping up the health and
trength of the COW, will also largely
Increase the supply of rich, healthy
MIX. In our experience 1t is cotton
'eed cake meal. We have found this
% have great effect on the milk &c.
;retlng organs. The cows, at first.
10 not seem to relish it and it should
,e mixed with some other feed mt
hey soon come to like it, and we
lave never seen any bad effects in
my way.