The Bolivar bulletin. [volume] (Bolivar, Hardeman County, Tenn.) 1865-1888, 1878-01-24
Feeding Dairy Cows.

Meal Feeding and Animal Digestion
Is the title OF new work by Linus
w. Miller. Mr.. Miller is an Experienced
dairy M IN and gives the results of his
long experience in a comprehensive form
The gist of Mr.. Miller's system ia the
Feeding OF COWS during winter with but
three quarts OF Indian meal per dav.
lie asserts that this amount of good In
dian meal, fed under proper Conditions
Is more than equivalent for all the GOOD
nay COW can be coaxed to eat-that the
animal does not need to have its stomach
distended with great bulk of woody
more, which imposes upon the system q
large amount of extra mechanical WORK
both In the processes of digestion and re-
mastication-that.i in briet, bulk in food ia
not advantageous, but to the contrary
and that nutTiment in food governs the
condition and health of the animal and
that condensation of nutriment il trne
economy. Mr.. Miller has conducted pbvsi-
illogical Investigations into the functions
OF the four stomachs of the COW. whence
1t appears that meal follows the same
course as herbaceOus food, and STAYS
longer In the ruman than coarse food.
while II also digests more thoroughly than
when the energies of the stomach are
olVided between meal and coarse herb
age.
Whatever may the correct theory in
this regard, results of actual practice an
pear to bear ont Mr. Miller's views The
report OF committee. appointed to ex.
anime into the system by the Western
New York dairymen's association. shows
the following facts: The examination
was conducted upon Mr.. Miller's herd OF
Casauqua county native COWS, the aver
age live weight of which was 900 pounds.
IRIS herd was fed exclusively upon corn.
meal Tor seven weeks, each animal, &C.
cordlng TO It's digestive capacity, making
an average of about three quarts of meal
per day for each COW. The animals did
not ruminate, did net manifest 80 much
desire for food as cows fed on hav alone
In the usual way, little less han thew
will eat, showed no signs OF unrest OF
suffering, and at the time of going back tc
hay, the cows had neither lost nor gained
flesh. After returning to hay, theil
stomachs filed and Illuminating went or
normally, healthy calves were dropped
and when turned to grass the animals
took on flesh faster than those wintereC
In the usual ways. Their daily yield Of
milk was 20 pound ounces, or pound
IL ounces per COW more than that O
any other herd sent to the same cheese
factory.
AS regards the economy of meal feed
ing, Mr.. Miller points cut that one bushe
OF corn, ground and boiled, will last al
ordinarysized COW Of 900 pounds weight
twelve days, aud is equal to 240 pound.
OF hay. Corn at 60 cents per bushel ii
therefore the equivalent of hay at SIS pei
ton ct 600 pounds, and where it can b,
had at that rate the cost of winterine
the animal will range from 81 to so, &C
cording to the coldDess and length of the
foddering stason. But hay, as a rule
cost at least $40 per ton, and frequently
much more. Hence, the estimated saw
ing by meal feeding is placed at from 81
to $50 per animal, according to the re
spective prices OF corn and hay.-7urf
Field and Farm.