Wyandot County Republican. [volume] (Upper Sandusky, Ohio) 1869-1903, 1869-06-03
Potatoes as Food for Farm Stock

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Potatoes are very much used in
Great Britain and Ireland as food
for horses, cattle, sheep and swine.
On this subject a practical Farmer"
has written an interesting article in
recent number of the Mark Lane
Express He says that full grown
cattle will consume profitably from
one bushel to two bushel per day,
provided with good dry chaff, that
is, chopped hay or straw. The
great consideration is to keep their
bodies right The chief danger
arises from the laxative properties
of the raw potatoes-it is not pur-
gative, but frequently causes a
''hove," Or great distention of the
stomach. This, however, seldom
occurs, except the animals german
disc too much, as they frequently
will do when large quantities of
potatoes are given. 1t requires
only ordinary care and watchful-
ness to prevent this. A neighbor
Of his lost three steers recently
from this cause. They came in
hungry aud gorged themselves ;
hove and purging came on, and
being in rather low condition they
could not withstand these attacks.
This was an oversight which might
easily have been prevented.
For.young, growing cattle they
are admirable food if given with
judgment and discretion. Young
calves thrive we'll upon them if they
are well washed and cut. From a
quarter to half a peck per day is a
good allowance for a calf. commenc-
ing when it is from ten to twelve
weeks old. Young cattle, from two
to two and a half years old, may
have from two to six recks daily,
taking care to watch the state of
the bowels. AS the Spring advanc-
es these rations may be increased.
Potatoes. like mangolds, contain a
considerable proportion of water,
which during the winter is dissipat-
ed and the tubers are thereby rem
dered more acceptable and whole
some food, and form an excellent
substitute for earley grass. 1t is
remarkable that when cattle which
have been wintered on straw, a few
roots, and q little cake are put upon
good rations Of potatoes in spring
they thrive as rapidly as upon 6
good pasture, quickly lose their ole
hair, and look like cattle grazed OIL
a rich pasture.
When potatoes are properly man
aged they are decidedly the bes
spring food for cattle and hogs, anc
should the potato disease cease al
togethc, it would be advisable tC
grow a reasonable quantity fol
these purposes. Some danger arise;
to cattle from giving these tuber'
whole, as small ones are apt to caus'
choking by becoming fixed in th'
gullet, On this account the.
. should be sliced with turnip cut
ter, or pulped with the pulper
Should choking occur, the fexibl
choke-tube. which ought to be il
the possession of every farmer
shohld De gently passed down tn
animals gullet to remove tn
lodged potato, care being taken no
to wound the eullet. In some in
stances the obstruction may be re
moved by small hand passe,
down the animals throat to grasp tn
, tuber. When the obstruction is ia
, down, this cannot be done, but th
tuber may be pressed downward b,
the hand from the outside.
AS for hogs, mixed with meal
!: potatoes are unrivaled, whethe
boiled. steamed or pulped. In al
cases they should be cleanly washed
: The pulping is the least expensiv
process but the potatoes are not 81
nourishing as when steamed 0
boiled. The difference, however, i
not great. For poultry, boiled o
steamed potatoes are exceedingl
: valuable Western Rural.