Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1904-02-23

SHOULD REST BETWEEN FEEDINGs.-
EVIL OF ovERFEEDING.
There are numerous ways of feeding
cattle as there are of doing many other
things. A method that seems the best
for one person may not always be the
best for all others. | suppose most
farmers feed three times day in winter.
formerly followed that practice and
when first learned that one of the most
successful dairymen of Worcester coun-
" had adopted two-meals-a-day sys-
TEN it seemed to me that it would be
bordering on cruelty to make cows go
from morning till evening without a
feeding, but the winter | learned of the
practice | was working in the woods at
some distance from home and the days
being short it made quite hole into my
work-day to have to come home to feed
at noon, just that part of the day which
was the most comfortable foe work
ing out doors. Some have claimed
that there is saving of food by feeding
but twice a day. This was no object
with me for am willing to feed all ami
mails all that they can make a profitable
use of. | doubt not that it is possible
for animals as well as their owners to
swallow more food than is for their best
good. Idle horses fed solely upon hay
NAV stuff themselves so much as to in
lure them for work. To perfectly
healthy animal or person the appetite
ought to be and probably is, pretty safe
guide. / never knew an animal at pas
ture where the feed was both good and
abundant to get sick by over eating. 1t
is when animals have been partly starv-
ed that they will over eat if given a
chance. Animals, too, like human be-
inps, are creatures of habit, and they
NAV acquire habits that are not condu-
Give to their best good. | expected that
nv cows would be incOnvenienced by
missing their noon meal, but was mis-
taken, And when came to think OF 1t
| remembered that they never seemed
really hungry at noon as they did in the
morning after nights fasting.
Horses have small StOmachS compared
to the paunch of a COW, and when fed
largely on grain it is proper enough to
give a whole meal at once, but when
cows are given such bulky food as hay
| think it is far better to give it to them
part at a tire rather than all at once.
With managers full or more than full
they are apt To poke it over, to pick out
the choicest portions, breathing on the
remainder till it becomes distaSteful.
MANY people would lose their appetite
for dinner that was all put upon their
plate in a single pile. l made as many
as three feelings for meal following
one after another with little waiting be-
tween. The first two could be liberal,
while the last would be gauged accord
ing to the apparent appetite of the in
dividual animal. One of the worst
things one can do for an animal is to
over feed it with rich food. l have
known animals to lose their appetite
for corn meal, made sick, as we may say,
lust as children sometimes are OF sweets
when they have been taken in excess.
When feeding but twice a day shorten
ed the time somewhat between the
morning and evening feeds and length
ened the night time. soon found that
my cows were eating their food with an
apparent better relish than when fed
three times. Cattle in state OF nature
feed rapidly in the open, swallowing
their food with but little chewing, and
then they withdraw to the shade and re-
chew at their leisure. When cattle are
fed in stables three times a day they fire.
quently are given meal before they
have had time To properly chew what
they had already swallowed at previous
feeding.
think a COW should have time be-
tween feelings to both chew over her
food and take a good rest. 1t was not
long after | adopted the new system
that the cows would rarely get up when
one entered the barn to do any ordinary
work, but would lie quietly chewing
their cuds or taking their midday nap.
think there was slight saving of food,
lust that amount which previously had
been given above the needs or demands
of the system. 1t was some time after
adopting the system with cattle that
felt justified in giving the same treat
ment to my horses but when was ped
ding milk ard other farm produce in
winter one of my horses could not be
trusted always To stand uDhitched tor
the last half hour before the usual feed
ing point was reached. So | made her
90 without her dinner and tried to short
en- the day by hurrying up the deliveries.
IL worked so well that | adopted the
two meals day for all the stock during
the short day season and with only the
best results. | do not know what the
general custom is at the present time
but it was adopted by whole townships
at that time under the name OF the
Barre system, that town being the home
of Mr.. Ellsworth, who first brought 1t TO
public notice. Where large herds are
kept for milk and it seems necessary To
do the morning and night milking at the
same hour to make the time between
equal, a light midday feeding may be
advisable.
Animals can be Injured to almost anv
descent method of treatment. They
should be so treated that they would
know about what to expect and when.
doubt not that there are many farmers
so situated that it would be con-
yenieuce to them, as il was TO me, 10
adopt the two-meal-a-day system OF
feeding for their cattle. | have known
MANY families that set but two meals
for themselves in the winter season
when the demands on the system are
light. And | never knew them to De IN.
iured thereby. II is not only waste OF
food TO eat when food is not required,
but it loads the system with that which
becomes a burden and an injury. Farm
ers have different ideas as to the best
method of watering cattle and other
animals. | think DR.. Smead has the
right of it when he says, THE best
time to water horse is when the horse
is thirsty" If animals are not deprived
of food or water when they need IL they
! will rarely injure themselves by swallow
ing too much of either.-A. w. Cheever