Rutland weekly herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1859-1877, 1870-12-01
Agricultural Items.

FEEDING Cows AT MILKING TINE
1t is the habit Of many persons, especially
if they keep but one or two cows, to take,
morning and night, into the barn pail
ful of moist feed at the same time they do
the empty milk pail. Others bring a
basket Of ears Of corn from the crib, while
a still greater number pitch. down and lay
before the COW fork full of hay prepare
tory to milking. The object in all these
cases are the same to give the COW some
thing that will keep hey in good humor
while she is being MIXED. This fodder
ing is the basis of compromise, in which
it is agreed that the COW shall keep her
legs and tail still while she is being milk
ed, but shall be at entire liberty to ex-
ercise with her nose as much as she pleases.
1t is a bargain in which the mixer agrees
to give the cow pail of warm food, or its
equivalent, in exchange for a pail Of warm
milk. You agree to give up to her GER
tain amount Of food that rightfully should
go into the hog-trough or the horses feed
box, provided she will give down an extra
quantity of her coveted secretion.
Now we Will not consider this practice
in a moral point of view, nor hint that
such bargains and compromises are ordi-
narily coupled with " fraud and corrup-
ton )" but we suggest that this habit of
feeding cows while they are being MIXED,
is a bad one in many respects. Giving
cows an extra feeding at milking time in
order TO induce them to submit quietly to
the operation, is very much like bribing
children with an extra dough nut or a
stick Of candy to go to bed without crying.
Discontinue the practice for single time,
and you will see the result the COW that
was coaxed into gentleness is now restless,
cross, and inclined to hold up her milk
and kick up her heels. The truth is, she
is not going to be MIXED in quietnes I'M
less she is paid for it. Let a cow con-
tract the habit of being fed at milking
time, and it will be found about as hard
to brake off as is the habit of useing to-
bacoo by the owner. She will expect
this extra allowance as much during the |
month of June as in the month of Feb |
ruary.
But this is by no means the only trouble
that results from this practice. Cows
will not frequently-at least that is our
experience-get in the habit of examining
down their food, on such occasions, with |
the utmost greediness, so as to leave the
feed pail empty some minutes before the
milk pail is full; This they do, thinking
to have it replenished as soon as the bot
tom is reached, of which event they will
often admonish you by lusty kick; in
deed, we have known COWS that had con-
siderable, experience in the matter, that
learned to give down their milk in the
inverse ratio to the rapidity with which
they devoured their provender. They
did not seem to have the ability to do two
things at once and so they devoted all
their energies toward emptying the pail
that was before them, and giving no pos
sible heed to the pail that was out of sight.
Cows are not so famous for their saga
city as are horses but it is certain that
they will learn to take the advantage of
the mixer in getting an increase of their
allowance Of food at milking time, and
that they will contract habits that will
give the mixer great trouble. A COW
that has been accustomed to be fed at
milking time during early life, will be
MIXED with difficulty ever afterwards if
denied her usual rations hence the i'm
portance of keeping them from acquiring
this habit while young.