Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1878-08-23
Farm and Household.


] Qi III anu IIOuOOIlOIO'
care Of Dairy stock
rFrom paper read at a meeting Of the state Hoard II
Agriculture by l.. X. Wood Of pomfrd.l
Though in favor Of the careful selection
aud breeding Of dairy stock, I still maintain
that the profits Of any dairy will depend in
great measure on good care and liberal feed
1t IS an old saying, that "what is worth doing
at all is worth doing well, and in no case is
it more true than in keeping stock an AMI
nal that is worth keeping at all is worth keep
ing well. The successful breeder as well as
dairyman must see that his stock is kept COM
Portable and quiet at all times. In summer
it may be turned to pasture, and should be
taught to stay where it Is put. This consid-
or one Of the most important things to be
Thought Of in the way OF care. | have always
noticed when stock of any kind get the habit
Of getting out Of the pasture and running
where they please even if they please to run
in the moving or comticld. they will not do
we'll they become restless and uneasy often
stoned. chased 10y dogs made wild, and many
times otherwise injured. The best and cheap
est way to teach them this is to see that the
fence is properly repaired before they are
turned out. 4 sufficient amount of feed,
plenty of good running water and salt once
or twice Il week is al that is necessary for
and from pasture should never be chased or
worried by boys or dogs. If driven slowly
and carefully they may travel II mile or more
each way, without any perceiyable injury.
Cows are creatures of habit and will learn to
be at the bars at about the same time, aud
should be driven and MIXED as nearly as pos
sibo at the same time each day. The same
person should, if possible milk the same cows
through the entire season. No harsh treat
10, lp foil La,
cIs should be allowed, but milking should be
done as quickly as possible and in the most
quiet manner In my own dairy. have cows
that think they must be MIXED first, and as
soon as | go into the yard with n pail, will fol-
low me until stop and milk them. This hab-
it of theirs take pleasure in gratifying The
time of milking should be regular. My own
time is about the first chore in the morning
and last at night, always milking by daylight
After milking at night in summer the cows
are all tied up in the barn and fed, on an av-
erage three pints of corn meal, and then
turned out TO lie in the yards, or under the
sheds if stormy.
When the feed fails in consequence of
drought or any other cause, l feed fodder
corn, all they will eat as long as it lasts. or
until the frost kills it, If not allowed to 90
TO fall feed at this time, feed rowen. At this
season of the year | mix meal and bran to-
three quarts of the mixture through the fall
and winter, or as long as they are in milk
which is about ten months Cows that come
in in the fall and winter will require more
feed and if good mixers, may be fed, with
profit, twice the amount named, while giving
large flow of milk but should be fed much
less the summer following.
Care should be taken to have plenty of
good sweet, oarly-cut hay to feed while they
frtN~t mill I =.
feed for cows, but think it poor economy to
feed straw to them it cannot be made equal
to hay by feeding more meal; they will not
keep up good flow of milk, and cows may
be dried up by feeding too much corn meal
especially at the season of the year when they
are inclined that way. When dry they may
be fed poorer hay and coarse fodder. If the
COW is in proper condition or out at pasture,
do not feed meal
Cows should have good, comfortable winter
quarters should not be out in the storm or
cold winds, but they enjoy sunshine and
pleasant weather. If kept in the stable
through the day they should be watered morn
ing and night and fed at least three times
unless the Barre system of feeding is prac-
tced, which is to feed continually in the
morning, little at time. until about ten o.
clock, when they are allowed to rest until
three in the afternoon, when the same pro-
cess is repeated until they have eaten enough.
In my own dairy the time for having cows
come in is at all times of the year, but proba-
bly, more in the fall than at any other time
If properly kept, good yield of butter can
be made, and of good quality throughout the
winter. Calves can also be raised at this time
of year to quite as good advantage as at any
other time Cows kept in this way will be in
good condition when dry, and may be kept on
coarse fodder until near the time of coming
in, when they should have good hay and two
quarts of oats daily until they calve, and then
should have light feed for n few days with
warm water to drink and warm, dry place
The calf is allowed to be with the COW un-
til two or three days old, when it is taken
away and taught to drink if it is to be raised
1t Is an easy matter to teach calves to drink
if done at this age, but more difficult as they
grow older. The calf should not be allowed
to get too hungry. The practice of letting it
go over one feed before trying to see if it will
drink, and a second if il does not drink read
lily and without spouting part through its
nose to the great discomfort of the feeder, is
useless and barbarous, and should never be
practiced. A little patience and good temper.
with the aid of the finger for a few times, is
all that is necessary to teach calf to drink
Fall and winter calves may be turned out
in the spring, but spring calves will do much
better to be kept up through the hot weather
/ might tell you how the calf should be fed
and cared for until it comes to maturity, but
time and space fail and the whole subject re-
quircs more ready writer to do it Justice :
30 as | am practical dairyman l leave my
paper for my milk pail, lay down my pen and
take mp the meal dish, sure of the sympathy
of my brother farmers when l say it is easier
Il. 4 a.