Barbour County index. [volume] (Medicine Lodge, Kan.) 1880-current, 1883-12-28
Liberality to STOCK.

stock ANIMALS are generally kept for
Two purpoSes--for the value If Il cir
flesh in various ways, and also for milk
and butter. As to horses and sheep.
she first are generally kept for their
labor, and the latter for wool. in addi-
ion TO feSi.. But for all these lur-
poses, as well as some others. first class
feeding is all-important. WHY then
should the feed be n;ggardly given at
any time? A horse poor in flesh is
weak, Unlocking 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 great deal more.
with less profit il the end, than to feed
well from the first. According to all
my experience, observation and read
ing, the more a 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
olC IalOuodnNS Vi WHOSc
leading doctrine of treatment and study
Is how little will keep their stock on
their feet, with no thought given as 10
how much can be profitably fed!
There is an inhumanity, too, in this
treatment which is astonishing. Ii is a
system which subjects animals to con-
slant hunger, so much so that it affects
growth, health and spirits. Do the men
who practice it know what hunger of
this sort is? Probably not But had they
better not try it, short time ut least?
Try couple of weeks or a month, and
note the result. Saying nothing about
the appearance. tile constant gnawing
OF the hunger fiend in the stomach, at
tending on half or quarter rations,
would be lesson in feeding that would
last good while. l wish it could be
tried in some cases, as it would work
vast improvement in stock-feeding.
Whenever | hear farmer CON-
plan about his stock being unruly il is
tolerably strong proof aga INST him that
his management is bad. It ok do not
jump fences or push them down merely
for amusement orexerc;se. There is an
lmpell NC cause, and that generally is
hunger. They are expected to live and
be happy and thankful in pasture tie DIS
VIII oh furnish little but ar and exercise,
and the law Of self-preservat on. which
appl es to them as web as 10 human
beings. impels them to Jump fences to
save their lives. They are to be
praised rather. than blamed. l wish
every half-starved herd in the country
would demolish every fence between
them and a full meal whenever
it is necessary. Then their owners
would learn more sense and humanity.
Lcok closely al a COW or horse that 8
never surprised by .'unwonted liberal
ity." Therei conteutment 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
amiab.fty never seen in the hungry an
imaL There is proht, o, in own ng
such an animal, and it is only surpris-
ing that the narrow-minded staryer
does not find it out. He does not de-
serYe the profit, but then he Is welcome
to if he wiz only quit his .'unwonted
liberaLty systems. p, in Country
Gentleman.