Dodge City times., 1883-03-01
GalYes During the Early Spring.

Young things that have done excep-
tionally well during the past three
months. will, in the same hands, un-
'doubtedly 60 onto grass as young grow
ing stock always should, namely, with
pliable hides and oily coats--two evil
dences that they have not put in the
whole winter without making some
growth. Yet. even such as have done
capitally up to February. will possibly
require more attention till grass than
they have from time of grass in the fall
till the present time. AS winter nears
its close. efforts are likely to be relaxed.
in view of the near approach of the
spring bite and due attent on to the bad
influence of the cold rains and mud
under foot. so liable to come in all ex-
cept the more northerly States, be neg
lected
These influences. added to the dis
'turbed Digestion, accompanied by a
more or less distended abdomen, in the
case of cal, es that have not done we'll
during first half of winter, will call Tor
extra care to the latter class. The
coarse feed. especially. straw, should be
entirely ignored. no access being al
lowed to any other than concentrated
food, except moderate allowances of
fine, brigh. wcll-cured hay. The
trouble which usually comes to very
young stock from feeding ground foods
is the indigestion, liable to oyertake
them through fermentation of the food
given. For this reason. oil-cake meal
is undoubtedly the best food in use for
calves. Farmers naturally have pref
udice against buying feed for farm
stock of any kind, under the belief that
the grains grown upon their own farms
are good enough for any animal reared
They forget that calves are usually
reared artificially: that is, they are, as
a rule, too early deprived of their nat
ural sustenance. the milk of the mother.
This involves the necessity of substitut-
ing Us nearly an equivalent as can be
found. On account of the tendency to
fermentation of ground foods, when
given freely to young things, and the
cake meal being only in slight de-
gree, compared to some other feeds,
liable to ferment in the stomach of the
calf. the latter is adopted, espe tally in
Europe, by pretty much all who rear
cattle and sheep, rs the most important
food at their command. Especially is
this true as regards their management
of young stock; nor do thew restrict it's
use to growing things. but use it freely
as basis for foods during the entire
process of fattening. 8.
Now is a good time for observing men,
with Judgment well matured in such
matters, 10 look up and buy young
stock to rear, as the discerning eye will
see the evidences of good strains in the
breeding and good care in the winter
ing, where these are present. Calves
that have been properly cared for till
February 1st are. with proper protec-
tion. easily carried through to grass. in
good shape for rapid gain. Calves
should be isolated from older cattle, as
their food requires to be selected and
very carefully given. Even such calves
rs in line to play master. should be re-
stricted in their opportunities for doing
so. being ted separately.
Where shelter had not already been
provided. it rs not too late to attend to
this important duty. AS do en- calves
can find sleeping room in a covered
enclosure twelve feet square. the ex-
cnSe OF putting up an unpretending.
vet warm calf room. need be but tritilng.
A very serious mistake is made by many
men in disseminating the feeding of grain
upon first turning to grass. There
is Il material loss TO the strength of
the calf by this practice. as the system
& radical change when green
grass with its abundance of water is
taken into the stomach in place of the
dry feed to which it has oeen
accustomed during the winter. ar'
Under. the coming system, sure to
hold SWAY. in ahe near future, namely,
the feeding oil at half the ape heretofore
thought proper. no owner can afford to
lose any time through omitting to fol-
low up the grain and oil-cakeI feed on !, ,
young animals. Ii these strong foods
are required. and pay while on the dry
bav owen Hu rinr ha y bS moo Of frracC