The Arizona sentinel., 1888-04-07
FEEDING MILCH COWS.
How to Keep Stock in Good Working Go
 dition All the Time.

years old or older, that will give fifteen quarts of milk a day on dry feed. get ting all she will eat of both hay and grain. and being kept in good working condition all the time. will upon prop erly- prepared feed, hay and grain. in a moist condition. produce twenty-two quarts day. When I make this as- sertion I make it und erstandingly, having observed actual results for series of years, and I can honestly say that I have not the least reason for changing my opinion as to the rela- tive value of the two methods of fced- ing.
 The first object of study in my own case is 10 keep the stock in good work inc condition all the time. Whatever may be the experience of others. my own is that can not do this with any degree of certainty upon dry feed. and feel sure that I shall not have trouble sooner or later from attacks of rarget milk fever at parturition and sudden dlsarrangemento of the digestive organs. I have come 10 believe that milk fever is induced. in ninety-nine cases out of one hundred, from feed- ing dry grain while the COW IS in milk
 A very positive advantage in feeding grain in moist condition is that the COW can as rule consume very much more and with perfect s;.fety. Also that vegetables, which have heretofore been considered objectionable because of the odor imparted to the milk, can be fed in unstinted quantity when mixed with warm, sloppy feed. There is value in variety. and one can better understand the full meaning of this upon trial. Nearly every farm in the land produces a variety of forage crops Every farm can produce a variety of root crops, if there is a dts position so to do on the part of the owner or manager.
 The time to commence this sys'em of feeding is at calving, because somo cows will not take to any thing of this kind at any other time. The quality of the cows 10 be treated will bear dis cussion. have found that it will not pay. so far as increase of milk is con- ccrned. 10 feed cows that gve less than ten or twelve quarts a day by the ordinary method of feeding. Milky COWS are the ones that pay, and in winter when it is rather hard to induce an even flow of milk, herd of twenty to twenty-five fresh milkers will easily gain hundred quarts of milk a day by giving warm and sloppy feed.
 Whether this extra yield will pay tor the extra trouble must be decided by the one engaged in the business.
 Hay for mixing should be mixed in the cutting. using as many variet ties as DO; ble. If you can not get scald- ihg water for mixing with the feed. use warm, and if you can't get this IS, cold water. If you use hot water. cover when the mixing is done to pre- serve the effects of the steam. Mix in the morning for afternoon, and in the afternoon for the next morning. The amount of grain must depend entirely upon the COW and her condition. Ii she is all right ten days after calvine l would commence by giving her one pound of corn-meal. one pound ot corn and oats. ground together, and two pounds of good bran to feed. Gradually increase the feed, if age and condition will admit.
 The sloppy feed will be prepared as follows: It is simply good gruel ol porridge fit for any one to eat, man ol beast, made up of whole oats, oats and corn ground, bran, corn-meal. gluten meal and the like, using material thau would indicate good quality of milk and discarding any thing that would be objectionable to the health of the COW. The amount for twentyfiv cows for day would be a molasses hogshead filled to within a foot o the top. Put in the grain first then the water. Nothing pays bet. ter than to have the water heated be- f,rehand. It not only saves time. bu fuel also. This slop should be of the consistency of good porridge, and properly cooked will be of an ever quality throughout. the particles O grain remaining in suspension. Th' cooking commences as soon as the re ceptacle is cleared of the morning feed, which will be by 8:30. This vii cook till about 2:30 D. m., when sui fcient for the afternoon meal will b taken out into the tubs to cool til feeding time. The mixture of roots which should be cut in advance, ar poured into the slop and when sui ficiently cooled is given to the COW.
 This slop may be given when tho cow calves, using judgment in th consistency of it, diluting with warn water to render it safe. It may b given a number of times day wit perfect safety. This slop may be com posed of equal parts by weight O the grains mentioned. It will b noticed that the COW gets from seve to ten different kinds of feed, all ( which it is possible and most profit; ble to have on any farm. The appl ;tnces for carrying out this system ( feeding are very che ap and economic al, and on a small. scale the kitche stove may be used with as good re suts as a more expensive arrange ment, although not so convenient. small steamer. 10 cost S75. will COO the feel for 50 cows and 100 hogs,