The Plymouth Democrat. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1869-1941, 1870-07-28
Sailing Dairy Cows.

TIE Importance OF salt for dairy cows
is generally understood, but nevertheless
it is much neglected. And where guam
tity sufficient for q certain number Of
COWS is supplied, ii frequently happens
that from the manner il which it is fed,
some animals get more than they require,
while others obtain little or none at all.
4 late number of the RurGJ Ne,o Yorker
hes the following article on this topic:
The way TO salt dairy COWS is to have
the SILT conveniently located fer stock
where daily access may be had to it, and
the animals allowed to take whatever
their appetites crave. Il may be placed
in boxes arranged along in the feed alley
of the stable, or il the trouchs in the
shed or yard. When cows have free &C
cess to salt, they SOON regulate their APP
petite to the daily use OF small quantities
Of it, taking no more than is required to
promote good health.
Animals require more or less salt, &C
cordipg TO the character of their feed,
and the practice of sailing ct certain in
| tervals is more or less Injurious, since
they are liable to over feed of it, causing
excessive securing end arrangement Of
| health. This is particularly tie case
when salt is thrown out indiscriMinatcly
in the field at intervals OF week or
more. In such cases, the stronger COWS
not unfrequcntly gorge themselves, pre-
venting the weaker animelS from getting
a due supply, and thus one part of the
herd is injured by Oyer-eating and the
other part from not obtaining what is
needed. When the animals have free &C.
cess to salt, nature dictates as TO its use,
and hence the results, both IS to health
and the yield OF milk follow.
Salt is very necessary for mich cows.
Without it the milk becomes scaDty and
imperfect. It is an important element In
the blood, and furnishes the soda neces-
sary to hold the cheesy part OF the milk
in solution. Eaidien found IN his analysis
coo pounds contained nearly half a
pound of chloride o: sodium. There was
also enc AMI three-guarters pounds OF
chloride Of potassium. There are various
purposes in the animal economy that re
quire salt, and cows IN milk should ct al
times have free access to il.
Perhaps the great necessity for its use
is in spring, when cows arc first turned &c
grass. The feed then is rather deficient
IN saline matter, ard does not furnish
sufficient for large quantity CT milk. A:
the grass becomes mere mature, tic mia
cral elements are more abundant, and
there is less desire en- the part Of animals
8r salt. 1t is OH this account, and be
cause COWS have been dried of their milk
that il winter much less salt is required
in the dairy than in summer. From ex,
periments that have been made, it ha;
been found that in May and juno, wher
mich COWS have been deprived OF salt FOL
several days, the milk shrunk frnm ont
to two per cert. in quantity, and from
four to SIX per cent ii quality. Later in
the season the experiments showed les:
difference.
Thus it will be seen that dairy stock, tt
pro.iuce thc best results, should have {
daily supply 0f sat, and the quantity i:
much better regulated by the animal than
il can be by the stock keeper who doles il
cut at intervals.