Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1871-03-17
Billy Ael'aebee gournal.
THE BEST MTLK-PRODTCING FOOD.


A correspondent of the German TEX
graph gives that paper the result of an ex
pertinent made by him in this connection
as follows s.. 100 .rsr .saar
"Ins O carefully-tried experiment which
made last Winter, ! found that heavy
feed; such as corn, wheat and rye shorts
fed to twelve cows, pound for pound, die
not make as much milk as wheat-bran, in.
to nine quarts q day !, and have no doubl
that for a time this would invariably be
the result, yet should not dare to contin-
ne for any considerable length of time to
feed nv cows upon wheat bran, alone, as
il wonld undoubtedly diminish the strength
of the cow, and soon reduce her to a con-
dition that she would be incapable of Civ
ing very much milk am now feeding
to twelve cows two bushels of wheat-bran
mixed with one bushel of corn-meal
ground in the cob, with very satisfactory
results. The milk is good, the strength
of the animal is kept up and diminished
amount of hay will keep the COW in good
thriving condition. | feed twice day.
1t is vet an open question whether the
food should be fed dry or wet. There is
no doubt but that in cold weather it would
be much better if the water, which is re-
CURED by cows in milk, could be warm
ed If taken into the system while at n
very low temperature its process of diges-
ton viii be retarded until the tempera-
ture of the water is raised to blood-heat
In warming this water digestion is not on
ly retarded, but there will be loss of a
certain amount of food, which, like fuel, is
consumed in keeping up the heat of the
body, and this accounts for The. fact that
a herd Of cattle require very much more
food IN extremely cold weather than they
do in warm weather. 1t viii be evident,
therefore, that large amount of food may
be saved by warm stabling in coin wealth
er, and, consequently a much great
or secretion of milk secured.
The great mass of the community are
no doubt ignorant in regard to the great
difference in the quality of milk made by
the different kinds of food Milk made
from cow fed upon turnips and buck
wheat-bran or observation-disclosures is totally
unfit for young child, or its mother, and
there is no doubt but that the mortality
among children is often caused by improp-
er food of which the milk is made. The
physician knows the Importance of having
the milk from new mich COW assigned
for a young child the why and wherefore
very likely he does not know. He proba-
bly, does not know that the milk from q
farrow COW is one-third heavier and one
third richer in caseine than that from a
new mich COW. and, therefore, is not as
well adapted to the wants ofthe child, MOI
does the mother understand that the cause
Of the child's illness is owing to some in
proper food eaten by the COW. If wa;
DESTROYS of making a given amount o
milk the best adapted to the use of thu
greatest numbersof children, / would feet
the cows on equal parts Gin pounds) o
oats, wheat bran, and Indian corn, ant
the best of hay and apples.
Until we become accustomed to trying
experiments, we shall not know for a Ger
tainty the quantity and quality of food tina
will, when fed TO lot of COWS, produc
the greatest amount of really good mil
for giving amount of feed, nor shall W
know whether the cutting of hay for on
mich cows in Winter will pay for the c,
pense and labor of doing it, q Some of on
milkmen who have tried cutting are {
the opinion that it pays well for the trouble
and some contemplate steaming.
Roots, especially carrots, increase til
flow of milk and the best quality. and wi
tend to keep the cow in good health. x,
pies will increased the quantity of milk nea
ly as much as turnips, and Of much bett,
quality.
In making milk there is nothing MOI
important than good early-cut hay. Witt
out this 1t may be doubted whether mil
can be made with profit"