The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1886-10-16
Ghe @armer,
The Plan of soiling Cattle.

A correspondent of the american Far
m,ey says The plan of soiling cattle and
other animals instead of allowing them
large areas of scanty pasture to find their
feed is getting to be, year after year, a
growing necessity, and is recommended by
a number of considerations which appear
to us pretty well conclusive. We believe
in modified system of soiling. We think
that cattle, hogs and horses should have,
at least in summer, small and convenient
pasture grounds in which they may find
shade and water, take moderate exercise,
and have the benefit of the untainted
breezy atmosphere, while their food is
raised in other localities and brought to
their stalls. This much, it seems to us, is
demanded by the supreme considerations
of health and growth. Cattle, under such
circumstances, properly fed, will take but
little exercise, that, and only that, which a
healthful condition demands. We must
never forget that all motion involves waste
of the body; that just as the power of the
steam engine is measured by the amount
of fuel consumed, so the animal organism
wastes in the exact proportion of its ply
steal activity. Every exhibition of animal
power, whether muscular or nervous, is
attended and measured by the disintegra-
ton and death of the tissues called into
play When fattening is the only idea,
then physical quiescene, as perfect as pos
sible, is the obvious indication. But for
growth and health is demanded that exer-
else, which, while it wastes, also repairs
and renews the tissues. We saw, last
summer, on the farm of Mr.. Singerly,
about twenty miles north of Philadelphia,
100 mich cows that were kept confined
throughout the year. The barn was the
finest we ever saw, and the arrangements
for comfort, convenience and cleanliness
seemed about perfect. No grazing what
ever was allowed, and we were told that
absolute soiling had been resorted to only
after repeated trials had shown that there
was decided diminution ofmilk whenever
the cows were allowed to Craze. The cows
all Holsteins-were perfectly gentle and
seemed Supremacy contented.
A few days afterwards we visited the
world-known farm of Smiths, Power &
Lamb, near Syracuse, n Y, and inspected
their magnificent herds-in all 500 head
of thoroughbred and imported Holsteins.
The plan adopted on this farm is exactly
the one we have recommended, that is, the
COWS were turned on small pastures a good
part of every day in summer, but gener-
ously fed night and morning in their stalls.
The COWS were as docile as Mr. Singerly's,
but they exhibited more life and animation
in their looks and movements, the hair was
more glossy, and the skin more elastic to
the touch, all indicating high health and
condition.
This modified system of soiling is recon-
mended by considerations which seem to
US overwhelming and conclusive:
1st The first advantage is that it keeps
the animals and the owner acquainted, Sc
curing on their part docility and gentle
ness; thoughtful care and attention on his,
and on both pleasing and charming at
tachment. Whenever this state of things
exist, losses alike from neglect, and from
accidents and disease, will be fewer and
less. Cattle always suffer when deprived
of their owners daily watch-care. The
lack of this attention is painfully illustra-
ted in those gaunt and wretched animal
frames that seldom see any food from their
owners crib, but are turned upon the COM
mons and are virtually told to get their
living as they can, and all the better if
they do it by trespass on the fields of
neighbors. In constant peril of bludgeon,
stones, dogs and shot-guns, they are at once
worthless to their owners and pest and
enemy to the community.
End. 1t is by long odds the cheapest and
most economical plan. An acre in good
heart will furnish several times as much
food as similar acre in pasture. The
only difference is that we have to cut or
NOW the food instead of requiring the cat
tie to get it in their own way. But this
additional labor by human hands substi-
tutes far more costly labor by our do
nestle animals. 1t must be done; shall
it be we or they That is the only ques-
ton. Every consideration demands that
we should do it. We can do it intelli-
gently, selecting the best time of the day,
choosing the best instruments and doing
the work,,when the food is in the most suit
able condition and when least damage is
done to the SOIL And when we give this
matter little forethought and prepare to
furnish suitable and abundant food to our
domestic animals that look to human hands
for support, it is wonderful how much food
can be raised and how easily the good work
is accomplished. Rye and the grasses in
spring, and an unbroken succession of In
dian corn from July to December, from
wonderful small areas for the animals to be
fed will furnish the food in rich and easy
abundance.
Bird. But with advancing time the yield
becomes more abundant, the work relative
ly less, and the results in every way more
satisfactory in consequence Of the rapid and
constant improvement of the soil, which
will be certain to follow the judicioas en-
ployment of the plan recommended. The
drain upon the soil is vastly diminished
Instead of removing from the land all of
its yield, as we do when we sell the great
staples, only a small part is removed when
we convert the yield of the soil into meat
and milk and butter.
The excrements and urine, properly hus-
banded, are restored to the soil, and vast
quantities of domestic manures from leaves,
pine tags, straw, stalks, etc., are made at
little cost, and to the comfort of the ami
mails. Acre after acre may be thus en-
riched, and at length the whole farm
brought to its maximum productiveness-
Now York veterinary suroeon saws II