Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1893-04-18
cAur,oN IN sprlNo pAsIuRlNo.

CAUTION IN sPalNo PAsTuRlNo.
Nothing IL gained, aud much is lost
by turning cattle and sheep out to grave
before the pastures are well started In
the spring. Many farmers, as soon as a
few green blades appear In the fence
corners, think Il q saving Of hay, OF
which their supply IL probably running
low, to turn oct the sheep and cattle,
aud as a consequence Of 50 doing, the
grass, which In few days more would
have given good bite and have obtained
a fine start, IL eaten down 50 close that
the pasture IL soon bare, receiving n
check from which Il will not soon re-
cover.
Keep the stock In the barnyard until
there Il good grazing, even though the
DAYS be warm aud the grass growing
nicely. The cattle are anxious To be out,
of course, aud evince their uneaslness by
numerous lowings and efforts to get out
into the fields; but a few days longer
will make all the difference between
well started pasture that will keep ahead
If the stock, and one that is soon eaten
short. IL is, moreover, q bad plan 10
turn cattle out while the ground s quite
sofr, "a the damage caused by their
hoofs will not be easily repaired.
In the early spring days, cattle and
horses are often running and playing
about the fields, over pastures and
meadows, alike, aud their owners evi-
IDENTIFY do not realize the damage they
are doing to the grass roots by cutting
up the sod. Keep up the grain ration Oh
all stock until the grass IL sufficient Tor
a full feed, and even then IL should De
gradually withdrawn from young stock.
aud dairy cows In milk should receive a
grain ration at least once day all SUM
mer. This will pay. The grass IL rank
and succulent and the cows eat u grerd-
lly, but IL does not contain the elements
for the production OF butter fats which
the grain does, and, although the cows
NAV give full yield at mix on grass
alone, IL will be found upon trial that
the extra cost of the grain feed VIII NOR
than be repaid In added cream 'and but
ter.
A personal experience In stopping the
grain ration OF young stock AS they were
turned out to pasture coat the writer
dearly. A bunch Of winter calves drol-
ped from October to January were In
line condition when spring came, being,
without an exception, sleek aud lat
They were turned out about the mill
die of May on good pasture with Tree
access TO water, but their grain ration OF
ground oats, bran and corn meal was
stopped, not being considered further
necessity. A change was soon apparent
In their condition. They became thin
In flesh, rough coated. aud In every
way inferior 20 what they were when
first turned out to grass, and, although
when the change was noticed, every
thing was done To bring back their Tor
mer condition they did not fully recover
from the check to their growth which
they received by suddenly stopping their
winter rations. Since then the change
from grain and hay l. very carefully
made with young stock, az with choice
heifer or bull calf the arrested develop
ment can never be fully repaired. The
same result will follow with colts, and
many AN understood, scrawny looking
horse owes its present condition 10 us
owners carelessness In allowing IL TO
run down for want Of little grain
"Penny wise and pound foolish" was
never better illustrated than by the man
Who stints his growing stock In their
food.-American Agriculturist.