Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1876-10-30
2fsricrIltlrral department.
BATTING AND RUMINATING.

1t Is absolutely certain that the d. |
gestive apparatus Of the OK and the /
horse are not alike. and that they both |
differ from that Of the bird. 1t Is also
known that cattle DO not uastieate and
digest their food exactly as DO horses
and poultry. The hen swallows her food
whole, the OK and some other animals
swallow theirs after very little chewing.
Watch a COW while feeding in summer.
and you viii find that very little tine Is
expended in chewing the grass IL Is
disposed Of about as fast as it Is bitten
Of, and in winter. while she IS eating
hay. one unaceustomed TO the sight
would be surprised at the rapidity with
which a large armful Of hay Is put out
Of sight One OK viii probably swallow
as much hay in half an hours batting
as would be consumed by four horses in
the same tine. The difference between
the OK ard TIE horse is in their different
modes Of chewing their food The OK
rolls his over few times. mOistening it
| Just enough to allow the powerful mus
eles Of the throat to grasp it and send
1t along to the stomach. where it Is re-
tanned TIL such time as. suits the con-
vsnience Of the animal. when it IS. by
some power not perfectly understood.
returned TO the mouth for remasticaticn.
This time it Is retained in the mouth a
long while, the animal appearing per-
fectly quiet and unconcerned during the
process Of uasticatiOu.
If We wished 70 illustrate 20 4 child
the most direct opposite to haste and
hurry, We could find no better example
then that Of a COW lying IN the shade
chewing her eud. This much We do
know. that cows eat very rapidly. and
after eating lie down and remasticate
what they have previously swallowed IN
: such great haste But just how the
} food is disposed Of after it Is swallowed
is not absolutely known at the present
! time 4 few very careful examination
] have been made Of the digestive appara
}. tus Of the COW, and doubtless the con
: illusions arrived At regarding the eondi
T ton and course Of the food, while 1t j
7 being digested. are in the main. correct
e Still, it Is very difficult to deteruin
a with absolute certainty exactly what
IS going on in the dark channels Of = liv
IS ing animal. BY examinations made upo
q 4 dead one The best standard author
E. tiles upon this subject teach Us that th
l. coarse food. ike grass and hay, on b
= ing swallowed drops into the first {
e. large stomach. often called the paunel
We and after being rolled over and over
', good many times, IS picked up, amOutl
ful at tine, BY the second stouaC
% and from thence sent to the mouth
4 be reeheEed. after which it Is sEalloEt
u again. but instead Of entering the paunC
he as before. it passes on through the es
to pbageau canal to the third or four
"a stomach. This Is the theory Of digs
ar ton as We ind it IN Youatt and 9th
cir standard works upon cattle. aud prob
IS bly, it Is. in the main, correct
- As to the question. Where does I
neal 20 ?" We DO not believe there Ia
been experiments enough made to det,
nine the point Our own belief
Us that It does not always follow the sa
les track. A few experimenters have
leY animals. just before slaughtering. v
'ns different kinds Of food and then exa
the ined the contents Of the stomach at
US death, hoping in this way TO be able
Ter determine with certainty. just how
are food Is disposed Of. but there are
many conflicting accounts gwen {
'eiy We are driven to the conclusion that
0ule DO not know We have 10 hesitation
l''- declaring that neal may 20 to the fOu
me- stomach very directly. but. that it
Ass ways goes there without passing thrO
mel the other stonaehs. We have good rea
to doubt. as We have had the bes
:. evidence TO the contrary. If CO.
a. not over fed We do not believe MUG
h;-4 her neal Is wasted BY either methO
!, feeding. clear or mixed with hay.
u TO four quarts Of grain fed to COW
triet ly. will help her every tiue--N
lrges Turner