The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1884-01-09
Stock Raising.

! We have before referred to the un-
proftableness of the general winter
feeding of cattle, and it has set far
mers to thinking and will do good:
If it is fact that the majority OF
our cattle actually lose in winter
and there is no chance to har6or a
doubt ofit-the reason is to be found
in the lack of judicious care. The
food and fodder we give our cattle
are good. They contain the ele'
ments to insure profit if they are
rightly fed and the animal properly
cared for. But is it not TACT that
MANY of us simply aim to get our
cattle through the winter alive and
nothing more? When the pastures
/ fail In the fall do we not virtually
say Now we must keep life in the
aninai somehow until pasture comes
again +? 1t would seem so. There
are numbers of men who never think
of buving any feed to keep their cat
tie up. But the farmer who does
not realize the absolute necessity OF
bringing his cattle out in the spring
/ in good condition, even If he has to
buy feed to do it. had better sell his
cattle when winter begins. A poor,
weak ned animal in spring will
have hard work to catch up during
the summer, and that fact ought to
be fully understood by every cattle
breeder. But it is useless to expect
the best results from even the high
est feeding if there is no care In 9TH
er respects. Good care is one-hali
the battle. It's because it Is saw
ing of feed, and consequently a say
ing of money; that has been one rea,
son for our frequent urging of the
necessity OF securing help that Will
treat cattle-and in fact all stock
kindly. A rough, careless man
about the COW yard will cost more
than his head is worth, either IN
winter or summer. Feed must be
furnished TO osupply what his rough
ness and carelessness in the care o.
stock wastes. and it will not make
good the waste, either. Every crueI
blow that is given an animal mean:
loss to the owner; all the beisterou:
language that is used to confuse ano
excite catt'e or other stock must be
paid for. and the owner pays 1t. Is
pecially is this true of milch cows
Whenever man is harsh with 6
cow, aud whenever a man Is EN-
Dloyed who is never in a hurry, ex
cept when he is driving the cows, he
is taking money right out OF the
pocket of the man that employs
him: and whenever the owner o
the cows is guilty of such things, he
is taking money out OF his OWL
pocket and throwing it away. The
first thing that a stock owner need:
to insure is good treatment of his
stock. and then he should see to il
that a iudicious system OF feeding
supplies what may be necessary tC
keep his stock in condition at any
time of year. Thus winter feeding
will prove profitable.
1t is useless to expect good result:
from stock-Iaisiug unless We car
keep it in good condition from the
start to the end. Young stock j:
frequently ruinuusly neglected ii
this respect. From some cause the
mother has not always a sufficient
supply of milk for her young. In
such case the utmost care must bt
taken to supply it from other sour
ces. The young animal that Is hal
starved will never make the anima
that is kept growing from its birth
even if it should live at all. 1t i;
often expensive to raise a young
animal by artificial feeding, but thai
has nothing to do with the question
of raising it right. If the eXpens,
is too much, don't raIse 1t. Wher
the milk ofthe mother is insuliicien
for the young-and that is quite fre
uuentlv the trouble with youngewe'
it VII he found best and much The
cheaper 20 feed the mother literally
on such things as roots, ground oats
etc, which will produce milk
Western Rural.