The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1877-06-01
Agricultural.
Turning Cows TO Pasture.

There is great difference of opinion
among dairymen in regard TO the time when
cows should be turned out to grass. Many
contend that all kinds of stock should be kept
Off pasture grounds during spring until there
is good growth Of grass. In other words,
the herbage must have obtained such
start that the stock will not be able to eat
it down short during the season, and thus
they believe supply is more fully insur-
ed.
Another plan, practised by many, is to
let stock have the full run of pastures as
soon as the snow is off the ground, allowing
it to pick on the old grass and eat off the
early vegetation as soon as it springs up.
The chief reason urged for this latter course
is, that the change from hay to grass in
feeding should be as gradual as possible, in
order that stock may be kept in good health;
that if cows in spring are turned suddenly
from dry food upon luxuriant pasturage,
the change is very liable to produce serious
troubes-excessive scouring-bl@ting and
other disorders that impair health, often for
considerable length of time, and even if
| they do not lead to the total loss of the ami
NAL. they cause the loss of her milk for lon
ger or shorter periods.
Now, 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 fill
ed with holes made by the feet of the cattle.
Again, when the frost is coming out of the
ground it is often rendered so loose in tex
ture that the roots OF grasses are easily pull
ed out, and cows feeding on the old herbage
not unfreguently injure the turf by pulling
up grass by the roots. 1t will be advisable
the ground is fully settled, and is not in con-
dition to be injured by the feet of cattle.
Nothing is gained by allowing pastures to
get tall growth of grass before turning the
stock upon them, because they tramp the
herbage 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 milk when it is eaten off at regular
intervals, and is not allowed to get 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 eff
feet 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 they should be fed from
time to time with hay after they have been
turned to pasture altogether. Cows will
frequently eat greedily of hay when they
have been cut to pasture for considerable
length of time, and rations of hay will often
be found useful in correcting tendency to
| AOoSCuCoo VI thC oOVCAo VI oSoutAh6
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
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 alw ays has il
within reach there is no danger of over feed.
ing, and the milk will show less variation in
character. An important point to be OBJ
served in the management of milk stock is
to keep them in healthy, thrifty condition
and if cows on turning to grass are inclined
to lose flesh and run down weak and thin
they should be fed rations of ground grain
and thus keep up to the maximum in health
and strength.-RuralN Nelo Yorker.