The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1877-06-29
Agricultural.
Turning Cows TO Pasture.

There is great difference among dairy
men 10 regard 10 the time when cows should
be turned to grass. Many contend that all
kinds of stock should be kept of pasture
grounds during the spring until there is a
good growth of grass. In other words, the
herbage must have obtained such start that
the cattle will not be able to eat IL down
short during the season, aud thus they be-
lieve supply is more fully insured.
Another plan practiced by many, is to
let stock have the full run of pastures as
soon as the snow is Off the ground, allowing
early vegetation rs soon as it springs up.
The chief reason urged for this latter course
is, that the change from hay to grass in feed
ing should be as gradual as possible, in or
der that the stock may be kept in good
health; that, if cows in spring are turned
suddenly from dry food upon uxuriant pas.
turage, the charge is very liable to produce
serious TO ibles-excessive scourng-bloat-
ing and other disorders that impair health,
often for considerable length of time, and
even if they 90 not tend to the total loss of
the animal, they cause the loss of her milk
for shorter or longer periods
Now, a middle course between the two
plans named, we think, is to be preferred,
and will give the best results. In the first
place, it may be remarked, pasture lands
will be injured in productiveness by allow
ing stock to roam over the fields early in
spring before the ground is settled, and
while it is soft and easily trodden up. The
"poaching of the land" by the frequent tread
of cattle destroys the grass in places while
the surface is rendered uneven or filed with
holes made by the feet of CATTLE Again, |
when the frost is coming out of the ground |
it is often rendered so loose in texture that |
the roots of the grasses are easily pulled out, |
and cows feeding on the old herbage not un-
frequently injure the turf, by pulling up |
grass by the roots. 1t will be advisable then |
not to turn stock upon pastures until the |
ground is fully settled and is not in condi-
tion to be injured by the feet of cattle. |
Nothing is gained by allowing pastures to
get tall growth of grass before turning
stock upon them, because they tramp the |
heritage down in places, and by neglecting
to feed other portions down, it soon becomes
hard and woody and will not be eaten.
Grass is sweetest and gives the best re.
suits in mix when it is eaten off at regular
intervals, and is not allowed to get a large
growth. In this way the product is greater
while the exhaustion to the soil is less than
it is where tufts of grass are allowed to ma
ture and go to seed. Cows ought not to be
turned at once from hay to pasture, since a
sudden change of this kind will be apt to
affect their. health. A better way is to give
them the run of pastures for an hour or two
at first, and so allow them gradually, from
day to day, to become accustomed to the
change of food, and should be fed from
time to time with hay after they have been
turned to pasture altogether. Cows will fire.
qnently eat greedily of hay when they have
been out to pasture for a considerable length
of time, and rations of hay will often be
found useful in correcting tendency to
looseness of the bowels or securing.
Some dairymen are in the habit of giving
salt to animals at certain intervals of time,
but the better way is to keep it constantly
before them or within their reach, so they l
can take it daily or at will. Nature regu- {
lates the quantity of salt needed much bet
ter than it can be done by portioning it''out
At intervals, and if the animal always has it {
within reach there is no danger of over. teed-
a. ha ID oh |
character. An important point to be OBJ Q
served in the management of milch stock is
% keep them in a healthy, thrifty condi.
ion, and if cows on turning to grass are in n
,lined to lose flesh and run down weak and a
hin, they should be fed ratons of ground "
rain, and thus kept up to the maximum in a
health and rength.-Rral Ne,o Yorker. C