Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1874-09-09
How Often to Feed Cattle.

tie; two, three, four and more feeds
being given in the twenty-four hours
Two feeds a day are evidently not
enough and are the result most likely
OF carelessness or inattention rather
than a conviction of the superiority of
the system. A course of three feeds
with batting between, seems to be the
most generally practiced. This particu-
larly with COWS. There are those, how
ever, who feed still oftener, giving a
last feed at nine o'clock in the evening,
and beginning early in the morning.
We do not know that these succeed bet
ter than the rest. The best success
that has come under our observation is
| to feed three times a day, morning,
noon and evening, each feed supple
mented by small feed, or rather each
one. divided, a little given to be con-
sumed in about fifteen or twenty min
utes, then the rest or full feed supplied.
This has various advantages. One is,
it satisfies the sharpness of the appetite
for the interval of rest, thus relieving
of eagerness or excess the desire for
food. The rest and larger amount is
more. deliberately and naturally con-
sumed, moro time being taken and bet
ter mastication resulting, in each course
only enough being given to clean the
feeding-boards. Rest follows, giving
chance between the courses for remas-
tication, making the night work for this
purpose the easier and performed more
perfectly. Another advantage of this
system is that the various kinds of tod
der can the better be disposed of. Thus
corn-stalks are given as the small or
supplementary feed, followed by clover
or hay, or clover may be substituted for
the corn-stalks, or cut straw may be
given, at first mixed, if needed, with a
little meal. 1t is found that corn stalks
as the supplemental and red clover as
the main feed are the most profitable,
being grown cheapest and good flesh
and milk producers. The clover is cut
early, when in blossom, two cuttings
the season. This makes it relished,
nutritious, and it's matter available.
The corn-stalks are the remains of the
crop after the ears are removed, thus
producing a very cheap fdl; yet,
pound for pound, equal to "good hay,
not the early cut and well-cured. But
the corn must be cut when the berry is
glazed, leaving the stalk yet green.
The best dairy (offfty cows and the
best farmer that we know of, adopted
and practices this plan. Glover and
cornstalks, secured when yet green,
are the feed, meal only being given
when the clover, owing to bad weather,
suffers in harvesting. What timothy is
raised is mostly sold. The dairy is
thus cheaply wintered, and the hay re-
allies large incomes. This system of
feeding gets more out of the fodder.
It is better masticated and mixed with
the saliva; there is more time for re-
mastication, the real work Of the ami
NAL, hence the most obtained from
the food. It is six feeds, yet virtually
but three in day, covering thus most
OF the variety INDUCED in by our dairy
men, as also summer grazing, in which
COW INDUCES in frequent feeding,
whether for the better. or not. The
system thus here sketched would pro-
badly apply to soiling, or the days be-
ing longer and the green feed more
ready of digestion, and less remastica-
ton being required, fourth course or
feed may be given.