Year: 1875

The New York Times says Over
feeding is, perhaps, the most serious
error OF Wintering stock under the old
or con- mon system, 1t has been sup
posed that an animal would eat only


what nature requires consequently
the general rule has been, in Ieeding
ruminants, to give them all they


would eat, without regard to its fit
ness or quality. In feeding late-cut
and very ripe hay, the food c1nstitu-
ents of which have in great part been
changed into almost indigestible
eellulose, 1t might require ali, and
even more than an animal could be
induced to eat, to keep it IN eOndi-
| ton. 1t is no uncommon occurrence,


in the experience Of stOck-Eeepers,


that strong, healthy animals lose flesh
when fed upon poor hay alone in
unstinted quality. Animals thus
treated acquire the habit Of stuff
fng themselves very full in fact,
they are obliged to do so in or
der to obtain sufficient nutriment


But change from poor hay to that cut


in tile first blossom 1.-THE very best
time, in point OF economy, for cutting
grass), one pound of which Is worth


feeding at least two pounds Of that
which is over-ripe the animal relish
ing it much better will eat even more,
if possible, than Of the poor hay, con-
sequently she may have more than


twice the nutriment she had formerly.
II her digestive capacity was unlimit-
ed, so that the added nutTimelt would
add so much to growth or the accu-
mutation Of flesh or fat, the error


would not be 80 serious but here
comes in tile important fact upon


which my system of wintering stock
is founded-an absolute limit to tine
digestive capacity OF the animal. II
/ that is exceeded, there is not
only waste in proportion u the
excess, but the system becomes
clngged and, in the very nature
of things seriously deranged.
! But suppose that in the Place OF the


early cut hay We feed rOwen or after
math, which, pound for pound, has
twice the value in food elements Of the
/ former (if cut when not over six or


eight inches and what utter folly to
/ allow the animal all il will consume


Of this rich fOOdi Some new milch


cows, whose laeteal glands are very


active and well developed, might pos
sIbly consume it without much waste;


but it is safe to say that not one COW
in one hundred could do IL. Yet many
dairymen are in the habit of feeding
their COWS ali they will eat the year


round, regardless of the fact that, a.


the flow OF milk naturally decreases
ltheespaeity Of the lacteai glands n
convert the constituents Of food into
milk is diminished in proportion, and


even when the COW is dried on, they


go on feeding at the same rate, not


considering that half her digestivG
powers are dormant The question
for every man who keeps q COW Il
study is not how much hay or grain
Z as the case msy be, she will eat; thal
is easily determined by placing tn,
, food before her but how much caI
} she assimiIate will out waste ? II sh'
Z has recently dropped her calf and
T giving, we will say, forty pounds o


milk daily, she will require NOR


than twice the sueculent food tina


would serve her II dry II she ha
been IN milk, say six months, an
! her flow of milk is reduced oDe-hsli
e about one-third less will supply he
Z wants.