Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1877-11-07
FARM AND FlREslEDE
Fall Treatment Of Csvs.

Perhaps at no part OF the year 90 co"S
need more care and attention than late
in the fall, and yet, at no other season
are they so generally neglected. Early
frosts materially injure the nutrltlve val
ue of the grasses that still often remain
abundant in the meadows and pastures,
and mich cows urgently require addl-
tional food to keep up their strength ana
condition. The errors made by farmers
in their treatment of stock at this sea
son. are often the result Of ignorance or
misjudgement rather than OF cnipaole
carelessness or mismanagement. Ihey
oyerestimate the nutritive value OF the
forage in the fields, and by compelling
their cattle to live on frost-bitten grass
es. the animals fall off in condition and
enter upon winter lean and weak. 1t is
very poor economy to allow mich COWS
to 90 into winter quarters in such an un'
favorable state, for the cost OF carrying
them through the season is much neav'
Ter than for stock that is vigorous ana IL
good condition at the commencement o
cold weather. 1t is much more dltflcul
TO nut on flesh in winter than in fall,
for lean stock during that ine fa fsSt sea
son, far more than counter-balances tint
expense of keeping the animals contln
uously in good condition; for stock tina
is reduced in flesh at the commencement
of winter requires at least quarter more
food to bring it through to grass then Il
would, did it start strong and healthy
This fact is forgotten or ignored by ma
nv who suffer their castle to rur
down In the fall, milking them late, ant
allowing them to be exposed.to all kinds
of weather.
Nor is this the only evil results o
such careless or niggardly treatment. 1
is not at all improbable that the want o
proper care and an insufficient amount
ofnutritious food in the fall manage
uent of stock, are influential causes 0
abortions. Cows that have been mllket
all the season very naturally grow
more or less exhausted and lose
vitality. and as cold weather comes on,r
CURE generous abundance OF nourlsh
ing food. If kept exclusively on the
grasses injured by the frosts OF October
and November, the lack Of sufficient nu
triton soon reduces the animals IN health
and strength and consequently predispo
ses them to this disaster. 1t will there
fore be a matter Of economy, even more
than Of humanity, for cattle-owners tt
commence feeding cabbage, the tops O
roots, small quantities Of ground grain OF
ship-stuf,, daily, just as soon as the
grasses Of the pastures have been touch
ed with frosts. A little bran, or even 8
few nubbins of cora fed daily, will also
prove beneficial in keeping up the
strength and condition Of the animal
Ia addition to this there should be plen'
ty of good hay, at least for one substan
tal meal Of each day. A daily allow
ance of bran, shorts, or ground feed o.
oats to one of corn is also strongly rec
commended to keep up the flow Of milk
aud to keep the animal in health and
condition.
But this is not all cows in milk
are very susceptible ofcold, and if un'
protected from bleak storms and frosty
nights, fall off rapidly in flesh and milk
Even in summer, a cold rain storm
lessons the yield Of milk; but on the ap'
proach of winter the strain of yielding
milk for several months, the genera
tone Of the system is lowered, and ths
animal cannot withstand sudden changes
of the3weather without serious injury
During the cold, stormy nights, thai
often occur late in the fall, the COWS will
do better in a stable, even ifno food is
given them, than ifexposed to the Ia
clemencies of the weather in the pas
lures. What little food they may nibble
under such miserable conditions, doei
them no good, and, as rule, instead o
searching for it, they huddle together il
some part of the Enclosure that affords
them partial pr protection, and ther'
pass the night, shivering and discon
tented. In this dissatisfied condition
they are easily provoked, and experience
has shown that no small injury is thel
Of ten inflicted on the weaklings of tn,
herd, by being hooked and driven abou
by the stronger animals. More foot
will also be needed by cattle, if exposes
to inclement weather, than if properl.
sheltered in well-yentilated stable
for it should be borne in mind that
considerable portion Of the food con
sumed goes towards furnishing warmth
to the animal, and if this warmth cal
be supplied by artificial means, it will b.
equivalent to proportienate percen
tage of food. Moreover, it has beel
well remarked that besides the actua
loss of food from the increased amour
needed under exposure to cold, there i
a future loss of milk from a feeling o
discomfort. The secretions are Away
disturbed by influences that cause pail
Or uneasiness, and every SILVER ola halt
frozen COW will make itself visible il
the milk pail. 375
To keep the stock in good, thrift,
condition, therefore, and thereby t.
economic provender, lessen the chance
Of disease and accidents, and increas
the yield of milk, as well as the amour
Of flesh, it is necessary not only to fee
cows generously in fall time, but also t,
provide a comfortable and covenlnen
shelter for them, against the iaclemen
changes of late autumn and the storm
and rigors Of winter.--Rral New
Yorker. .f.f s.rl.