River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1874-09-04
Treatment aud Cnrc Of Cows.

Wdter.-At least have a supply of
pure water in the yard, for winter
Getter II 1t could be in the stable and
COWS not obliged to go out of doors ex-
cept IN pleasant weather for exercise.
Many farmers lose more dollars yearly
than it would cost to dig a well in a
yard, by driving their cattle, during
the inclement weather of winter. to
some lce-bound brook or frog-pond to
Stake their thirst. The cows come back
to the barn chilled with the cold, and
1t requires good feed of hay, and con.
siderable time to restore the natural
warmth OF the animal and this amount
OF food is lost. The importance of pure
water has been proved by Prof. Law,
IN some extensive investigations, where
the effects of filthy and stagnant water
could be traced through the entire sys-
tenn of the COW, through the milk and
butter; and he is of the opinion that
diseases of the human family might
frequently be traced to the use of i'm ;.
pure milk. In the instance referred to
the organisms found in the stagnant
water were found diffused through the
blood and milk of the COW, and produe-
ed diseased, feverish condition of her
system. This investigation, made by q
careful observer proves conclusively
that the germ OF disease, and of a
milk spelling ferment, can be intro
duced into the blood and into the I'D
der by simply allowing the COW to drink
impure water. Similar facts have been
noticed at cheese factories, where the
milk OF a few cows drinking impure
water ahd tainted the days make of
chees.
Comfort Of the C0Ws. Study to rem
der the COWS as comfortable as posi-
Bile; this includes many things promi-
nent among which are regular hours
for feeding and milking. warm, well
ventilated stable; liberal amount of
bedding for them to lie upon; and
last, but not least, perfectly kind treat
ment. On no condition should kick
ing, whipping or loud scolding be in
dulged ln-this last being sufficient,
Mr.. Harris Lewis says, to cause the
falling off for several days of twenty.
five per cent. of the amount of milk
usually given by the COW.
StabLes-It is a lamentable fact that
so little attention is paid to the con-
dltlon OF the buildings in which we
keep our cows. Ventilation is some
thing that is frequently entirely over
looked, not so much, l hope, from the
inattention and negligenceof the owner
as from his ignorance of its necessity.
Warm, i'll ventilated stables will save
food, but at the expense of the health
of the COW and the quality of the but
ter. Better the cold, open barn, than
the close, poorly ventilated stable but
there is no need of either. A little
study and application will generally
enable us to remedy both.
Necessity Of Fertilization. Many
stables are placed directly under the
hay-mUw, and unless properly ventila-
ted (Which is rarely the case) there is
no escape for the offensive efiluvia ex.
cept into the hay, where it is condensed
and fed back to the cattle. Many per-
sons contend that this does not affect
the hay, citing for proof the fact that
the cattle eat it freely. The fact is,
their sense of taste and smell has be.
come blunted by constantly living in
this tainted atmosphere, and as the
condensed oiliuvia fed them in the hay
is substantially the same thing, they do
not object to eating. But it is there,
nevertheless, giving faint to the milk
and butter, and iniuriously affecting
the health Of the cows. Another seri-
Gus objection TO many stables is, the
manure is piled up in them to ferment
and add yet another faint to the atmos-
phere - Report Of Maine Board Of
Agriculture, 1874