The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1883-12-22
Liberality to Stock.

Stock animals are generally kept for
two purposes--for the value of their
flesh in various ways, and also for milk
and butter. AS to horses and sheep,
the first are generally kept for their
labor, and the latter for wool, in addi-
ion to flesh. But for all these pur-
poses, as well as some others, first-class
feeding is all-important. Why then
should the feed be niggardly given at
any time? A horse poor in flesh is
weak, ill-looking and unstable. A poor
cow is much the same, and in addition
gives but little milk or butter, and is
unfit for beef. Poor sheep and poor
pigs are also nearly worthless in that
condition, while to improve them after
such treatment costs O. great deal more,
with less profit ia the end, than to feed
well from the first. According to all
my experience, observation and read
ing, the more COW will eat up to the
point when she is moderately fat, say
good enough to butcher, the more
profitable she is for dairy purposes, and
the less danger of loss from accidents,
which do not impair her value for beef.
Here is constant motive then for good
feeding, and yet it seems that there
really are thousands of farmers whose
leading doctrine of treatment and study
is how little will keep their stock on
their feet, with no thought given as to
how much can be profitably fed!
There is an inhumanity, too, in this
treatment which is astonishing. 1t is a
system which subjects animals to con-
stant hunger, so much so that it affects
growth, health and spirits. Do the men
who practice it know what hunger of
this sort isP Probably not. But had they
better not try it, a short time ut leastP
Try couple of weeks or q month, and
note the result. Saying nothing about
the appearance. the constant gnawing
of the hunger lend in the stomach, at
tending on half or quarter rations,
would be lesson in feeding that would
last good while. 1 wish it could be
tried in some cases, as it would work a
vast improvement in stock-feeding.
Whenever L hear a farmer COM
plain about his stock being unruly it is
tolerably strong proof against him that
his management is bad. Stock do not
jump fences or push them down merely
for amusement or exercise. There is an
impelling cause, and that generally is
hunger. They are expected to live and
be happy and thankful in pasture fie ds
which furnish little but air and exercise.
and the law of self-preservation, which
applies to them as well as to human
beings. impels them to jump fences to
save their lives. They are to he
praised rather than blamed. / wish
every half-starved herd in the country
would demolish every fence between
them and full meal whenever
it is necessary. Then their owners
would learn more sense and humanity.
Look closely at a cow or horse that is
never surprised by ''unwOnted liberal
ity." There is contentment and happi-
ness in the eye and every motion. The
coat is sleek and soft, and unless habit
ually teased, there is good nature and
amiability never seen in the hungry an
imal. There is profit, too, in owning
such an animal, and it is only surpris-
ing that the narrow-minded starver
does not find it out. He does not de
serve the profit, but then he is welcome
to if he will only quit his ''uuwonted
liberality' Systems. p, tH Country
Gentleman.