Vermont farmer. [volume] (Newport, Orleans County, Vt.) 1870-1877, 1876-05-12
Roots for Stock.

Our report OF Jne excellent results Oh leCu-
ing turnips to Mr.. Winslow's oxen has
called out some comment and statements Of
tie chemical analysis Of turnips to prove
that it is impossible that they should be of
any considerable value as food for stock.
But the experience Of many farmers who
best evidence that they are not only a
have used them more or less, is the very
very nutritious article of food, but assist in
the digestion of dry hay and regulate the
bowels, and thus contribute to the health
as well as growth of animals including men.
Mr.. 9. 7. Alvord of Wilmington, one Of
the most intelligent agricultural writer's in
Vermont, contributes the following to the
Boston Cultivator.
have been much interested in reading
the numerous articles which have been pub
ished in the agricultural papers during the
past few months, on the subject of raising
roots for domestieated stock, during that
part Of the year in which they are fed on
hay and other kinds of dry fodder. There
always have been aud probably always will
be, different views as to whether it pays to
raise roots to feed to stock or not and
have heard this expressed in relation to
nearly all Of the farm crops raised. Every
intelligent person knows that the profit or
loss in raising and feeding any crop depends
on the favorable or unfavorable circum-
stances attending the raising and feeding of
those crops. For nearly 10 years have
raised roots to feed to iarm stock, aud | am
satisfied that during this time roots have
paid me as well as any other crop that
have raised. The ruta baga has been the
kind chiefly raised, as [ have had the best
success with that Of any that have raised,
have never raised a crop that yielded less
than at the rate of 800 bushels per acre
the largest yield being 500 bushels on one
fourth acre, aud several crops have pro-
duced 500 bushels OH one-halt acre. The
labor Of raising and harvesting my turnips
is no more per acre than TO raise potatoes.
| feed roots raw to cattle and sheep, and
boil them for hogs. | have frequently
heard it said that turnips are comparatively
worthless to fatten beef with, and also that
| if beef cattle be fed on turnips the turnip
feed must be stopped for several weeks be-
fore they are killed, and meal or something
else substituted, or the beef would taste Of
| turnips. la numerous instances | have
proved the falsity Of this notion. The first
beef that tattened exclusively on turnips
was a COW. She had calf in March, was
MIXED till Oct. |, when she was dried off
and began to feed her half bushe Of tur.
nips night and morning, aud this feed was
continued till | began feeding hay, when
the turnips were increased to bushel night
and morning, aud this quantity was fed
every day till she was killed on Jan. /.
Her dressed weight was $50 pounds.
The next year had another COW that
had a calf in April, and on Oct. | began
feeding her turnips, but did not dry her
mik-though her milk gradually dried up
This COW was fed till Jan. 1 in the sam(
way as the COW fattcned the year before,
with the exception that during the las
three weeks she was fed two and one.hal
bushels Of turnips day. The dressed
weight of this COW was 9lO pounds. Tn,
following year l had a smaller COW thar
either of the two mentioned t; she began Civ
ing milk on April |, and | continued t
milk her till she was killed. | began feed
ing her turnips on Oct. |, gave her wha
turnips she would cat, aud killed her on Jan
her dressed weight being 800 pounds
These three cows were kept with my otho
cows that were giving milk and had NJ
other feed than grass, hay aud turniPs, anC
the feed Of turuips was kept up till the da,
before they were slaughtered A part o
the meat Of all Of these COWS was sold to
different persons, and all OF them pronounced
the beef to be Of a superior quality, and N
one was able to detect any flavor or smeI
of turnip in the meat The tripes obtane,
, from these cows | cured myself, and it wa
as free from turnip favor as the meat.
have iattened many other bcevcs, wholly o
! in part, on turnips with equally fayorabl
results When iattening cattle on turnips
give them all that they will eat, as ther
is no danger Of injury by over.feedng, Il
with potatoes or beets, have never ha
cattle or sheep eat turnips enough to bloa
' or scour them.
r 1t has often been said that if COWS givin
5 milk are fed on turnips, the milk and butte
o will taste of the turnips yet whenever
have plenty Of turnips | always feed thcI
to my cows, and | never have experience
y any trouble in this way. My way OF leedin
them is to cut them up aud give every co
= one-haf bushel once a day, feeding just ait'
/ milking in the morning The theory aC
. vanced by some in relation to the flavor
turnip in the milk is, that it is produced b
volatile oil contained in the turnip, whic
9 diiluscs itself through the system immed
y ately after being eaten, but if the turnip
g. fed Immediately after the COW is mike
: this odor is dissipated or passes off belo
= the time Of milking again presume tn
u cows might be induced to eat turni
ut enough to make the milk taste. kno
* that if they are allowed to eat indscrim
n nately Of the tops it will give the milk
rank flavor. | think that there is no bett
~ feed for breeding ewes than turnips. Th
ne increase the quantity Of milk, and the lam
!. soon learn to cat them, which makes the
ut grow fast.
% To conclude, never have fed turnips
any kind Of stock without receiving d
x cided benefit from so doing. 1t has al
g. been said that turnips will poison the la
ly on which they are grown, so that other Gro
will not grow and do well after the
One year l raised turnips on one-half a,
Of ground aud had 450 bushels. The n,
year put moro manure on the same pi'
cd Of land, aud raised turnlps again, and haC
crop OF 800 bushels The next year | SOW