The Newberry herald. [volume] (Newberry, S.C.) 1865-1884, 1880-08-11
AUGUST.
FOOD OF FARM STOCK.

The farmer must always bear III
aind that the kind of food, as well
its condition when fed out, ex-
rcises q wonderful influence upon
ne health and general welfare OF
arm stock. The season IN which
70 give this matter special attention
IS during the summer, while the
arious plants cultivated for the
ood of animals are growing or be-
!: ag gathered for future use. The
.aost nutritious food is not always
he best under all circumstances
nd conditions, ; but the farmer
hould aim to produce a variety, so
hat bis animals may have a change
OCCASIONALLY and at ali seasons OF the
ear, SIS this is usually conducive to
.ood health. Food in it's green
tate is certainly more natural than
vhen dried, as in hay, grain, and
Strsw ); but in cold climates we are
compelled to preserve food plants
n what may be termed an unnatural
condition, and by artificial means,
or the use Of stock during the WIZ
,er, when they are unable TO pro-
cure it for themselves. The far
.ner should, therefore, endesVor to
secure the food for his stock IN as
good condition as possible, and m
such variety that a change from
summer to winter feed shall not
prove deleterioas to the health and
comfort Of his animals.
To take stock from the pasture
where they have been feeding for
months upon green, succulent her.
oage, and then con6ne them in the
stable Or yard, and give them moth
ing better than dry hay, cornstaiHs
or straw, is too great change, and
it should be lessened or moderated
by feeding some kind OF soft food
for a few weeks along with the dry
in order that the digestive organs
may not be impaired by the change.
If the farmer cannot supply his
stock with roots for green feed, he
can at least give them the softest
and best hay, or even steam or
moisture it before feeding. But if
he thinks of it in time, he can have,
if he will take the trouble to raise
them, o quantity OF turnips, beets,
carrots, or similar roots ready for
use at the proper time, and, in fact,
he should have these roots on hand
all winter, and give his stock an oc-
casional feed of them, if only as a
medicine or health preservative.. If
shose who keep stock would think
much of the health and comfort of
their animals as they do OF their
own health and comfort, we should
not hear so much of diseases among
animals, especially during the win
Ter and early spring months.
Animals that are well fed with
nutritious and easily digested food
md then sheltered from cold storms
are generally in condition to resist
diseases, and it may be safely as
serted that seventy-fve per cent. of
ali losses of farm stock is the direct
result of neglect or starvation. It
is very hard to make farmer be-
lieye that his animals are suffering
for food while he is giving them an
abundance Of what he thinks is
good enough; still, if the food is
not adapted TO their needs, they
may not only suffer inconvenience,
but in some instances actually
starve when surrounded by q plen-
tiftd supply of food, such as it is.
Then, again, an animal may
thrive upon a kind OF food while
young and his digestive organs are
healthy and unimpaired, and yet
starve upon the same when old or in
i'll health. We have frequently heard
farmers remark that the old no, so
or COW sdid not do as well as they
used to, although they we're get
ting the same feed they always
had," and this was just the reason
the animals did not thrive they
needed better and more easily d.
gested food than had been fed to
them in their Younger days. In
some of our Western and Southern
States whole dry corn is the only
things fed to mules and horses, and
their owners think it good enough;
,ut while We are willing to admit
hat these animals may thrive for a
iew years upon such food, thes are
ar more likely tes os
Early than sais fed upon oats o4
he safe Kind OF corn ground and