The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1891-01-15

o take some gOOui HuOleeoino ""
feed, such as hay, fodder, bran, cotton
seed oats or any combination OF
them; put them in box
or rack where the animal can
reach them and the job may be con-
sidered complete, for the COW will do
! the rest. This is simple but invalu-
able cure for loss of cud.
1t is amazing the amount OF igne-
rance that prevails on this subject even
amongst those who have handled stock
for a lifetime.
A few years ago dairyman who had
been in the business for over twenty
years told me that one of his COWS had
been sick. She had lost her cud and
he made Ler one of corn meal, salt,
pitch and some other ingredients !
nave forgotten. They were fashioned
in the form of ball about two inches
in diameter and forced down the poor
brute's throat with a snake whip.
He got seventy-five cents for the hide.
He was astonished when told some
facts about the cud, and the same in
formation may be useful TO others
equally Uniformed.
Ruminant animals like the COW,
sheep and goat do not masticate, or
chew their food before swallowing it;
but gulp it, half chewed. This semi
che@ed matter goes into the paunch
or first stomach, where it is stored Till
the animal has time, inclination and
ability to put it through further
grinding process.
When that time arrives, the animal
begins by fetching up a small wad OF
food from the paunch into the mouth
where it undergoes thorough masti-
cation and by a peculiar muscular
action is again swallowed and
deposited in another stomach
specially cOntrived for its reception
This little wad of food that passes up
and down the throat and from one
stomach to the other is called the
"cud," and when COW loses that, it is
sign that the animal has nothing in
its paunch to chew or is too sick to
perform that function.
A cows stomach will get out OF
order and lose the muscular power
necessary for cud chewing, but gen.
orally the Gloss of cud" is due to lack
OF food, as in our correspondents case
when his COWS "got very poor in flesh
and their hair stood the wrong way"
insufficient or unwholesome food and
lack of salt willssoften be found to be
at the root of the trouble. Let these
be attended to and the stock well
watered and sheltered during inclem-
ent weather and artificial cuds will
not be necessary.
HOG CHOLERA.
Reports reach me that hogs are
dying is this and Williamson counties
from some disease which for want of u
better name is called cholera. / think
it is very doubtful that cholera is the
cause of death. 1t ia a disease which
is very rapid in its action, very conta-
geous and quickly spreads; but like
Asiatic cholera and yellow fever it
must be brought into a district by
some affected animal. AS cholera is
not In any other part of Texas, it is
probable that the dying pigs are
killed by cold, overcrowding in
search of warmth, or starvation.
| The American Cultivator does not en-
dorse my views but believes that chol-
era may he produced by an exclusive
diet OF corn. 1t says: Exclusive corn
feeding is now generally conceded to
be main cause of the prevalence of
hog cholera. When for generations
swine have no feed except corn, saving
possibly a little grass in the summer,
their constitutions are gradually I'M
derminded and become unable 20 re.
slst disease. Breeding for generations
from immature sOWs has also done
something to weaken the constitution
though it may have had some COM
pensating advantage in promoting
early maturity. For breeders we
should prefer pigs from an old SOW, as
they will be longer bocied and have a
larger frame work ON which to lay
flesh. Yet the pigs from young sows,
II we'll cared for from the first, may be
nearly or quite as good for making
pork at eight or ten months old. Ii
must be remembered that the young
SOW does not give so much nor SO ricf
milk as one that is older, so that tho
young pigs to he given even chance
should begin feeding somewhat earlier
and more abundant thy. This is rarely
done, and hence pigs from old SOW,
are always practically reckoned the
best"
A Spring Medicine.
Nothing 50 etficaCiGuS as 2. p P. for a
spring medicine at this season, and for
- II IL .sL.rN.., Ir,... IL