Vermont farmer. [volume] (Newport, Orleans County, Vt.) 1870-1877, 1873-02-07

| Wnen the cows come IN, leeds three times
day Of good hay, with shorts and corn meal.
Thinks highly Of shorts for cows. Waters
Immediately after eating. Thinks it impor-
tant that they shall drink before beginning
to chew their cuds. They then lie down
contented till half past two when they get up
and are ready for another meal. Then feeds
and waters as before. Then cleans the stable
and is done for the day. Ties in stanchions.
Gives about dessert spoonful Of salt every
morning. 1t is very necessary to be careful
OF the bags Of cows affer calving. Apt 10
be hot and feverish, especially If calves are
allowed to bunt and suck all they will. If
inflammation is set up, takes the calf off en-
tirely, and bathes the bag in warm water,
wiping dry and bedding well, keeping out
drafts.
Mr.. Douglass Why do you con6ne your
COWS so closely in winter2
Mr.. Ellsworth In order to keep them
quiet and in an even temperature.
Mr. Douglass thought the trouble with the
bags of which Mr.. Ellsworth spoke as
common, due to close confinement. Both
profit and humanity require that COWS have
exercise.
Mr.. Broughton Do you change pastures
Mr.. Ellsworth: have three pastures,
and change from one to the other every two
or three days. Cows do not become uneasy
in consequence Of such changes If they are
regular. Does not put up his cows in the
barn at all in summer.
Mr.. CHAMPION thought confinement Of cows
in winter more profitable and better for the
cows, than to turn them out even in the best
of weather.
Mr.. Lane, of Cornwall, approved of Mr..
Ellsworth's idea Of turning out the cows some
in the spring, as soon as they can get bite.
The same has proved true with sheep, allow
ing the change from winter to summer feed
to be gradual. Experiments in this matter
where half a herd has been turned cut and
half kept up prove this.
Mr.. McAllister, of Enosburg asked if the
feeding watering and cleaning at halEpast
two is the last thing done for the cows.
Mr.. Ellsworth Except milking. have
come to feeding twice day from experience.
Began by feeding oftener, but my own ex-
perience, and observation of my neighbors
have shown me that feeding and watering
regularly twice a day is best. The COW
must have time to chew her cud, and fre.
queut feeding interferes with that, thus dis
turbing her digestion and making her more
or less unthrifty.
Mr.. Smith, of New Haven, thought differ.
ence in circumstances should be considered
in this matter. Had some cows that he fed
twice and some oftener. Thought the last
did best
Mr.. Lewis, of Herkimer County, N. Y
Was MT these your best cows, or was there
} not some other reason why they do better
aside from feeding2
Mr. Smith thought not.
Mr.. Lewis thought Mr.. Elsworth's sys.
, TEN Of feeding correct. No Illuminating ami.
NAL should be fed more than twice day. II
Injuries their digestion. Saw but one chance
for Mr. 4. to improve his system. He would
give the good hay first and the rubbish last
; Mr.. Douglass is man of remarkably good
sense except in one particular, and that is in
giving his cows too much exercise. Nature
} will not do for guide to the dairyman
Follow nature faithfully and your cows will
give pint day. Mr.. Ellsworth is a care.
iul man and takes good care of his cows and
can feed some straw with impunity. But il
will not do to preach the doctrine, for if you
feed straw you will have straw cows and will
become straw dairyman. Feed literally
feed early cut hay, feed roots, but no rub
bish. The Barre system of curing fodder
corn is to dry it on their stone walls, and
they have walls enough to dry all the corr
that will grow between. 1t is very nice fod
der for corn fodder. Mr.. Lewis objected tC
7 changing pastures on account of making the
! cows as uneasy as free-lovers.
, Mr., Douglass said Mr.. Lewis had been SC
, well treated at Barre, that he had come bach
with Barre ON the brain SO he was in IA
: vor of close stabling. No doubt you may al
Q first get better results from it, but it makel
4 the cows unhealthy. Mr. d. is not in fayol
I of turning out cows in rough weather, OIL
leaving them out long but with we'll pro
tected, sunny yards and sheds, it is better t.
give them an airing and exercise on every
= suitable day in winter. Then you will hav,
r no trouble with your COWS at calving time
D Dr. Cole thought COWS with calf should
have but little exercise.
Mr.. Douglass did MT want his COWS exer,
cised, but he wanted to give them a chance tC
take what exercise they want, and that would
not hurt them.
Mr.. Gold, of Conn.,, thought he could har
monize Mr.. Ellsworth's and Mr.. Douglass
ideas in regard to exercise, With dry Cows
exercise such as they would take in suitable
weather in winter is beneficial. But cows Civ
ing milk do better kept in the stable. Mr. d
= says he keeps his cows dry most Of the win
ter. Mr. Ellsworth does not. Mr.. Colo
. would feed cows in milk more than twice Q
! day. In the matter Of change of pastures
his experience was against it. Found il
D made the cows uneasy, and they did not give
! so much milk Might have night and q
5 day pasture, but no other change. Mr.. Cole
) would not follow nature too strictly, but still
, thought close stabling rather heavy draf
upon the vital powers of stock,