Salt for Milk Cows.

Feilding Star, Volume XVI, Issue 63, 8 September 1894, Page 4

Salt for Milk Cows.

Free access to salt ia advantageous to live stock, a fact which has not been so widely accepted as could have been expected. It is regarded generally as important from a health point ol view, but it is doubtful whether many are aware of the influence whicii salt may have on the production of milk. If a cow is in good and sturdy health it may be expected to produce more and better milk than an animal in poor condition. Experiments have recently been made in England to ascertain whether the giving of salt tc dairy cows has any direct bearing on the supply of milk, and the results have been of a character which will he surprising to many who attach little importance to providing salt foi their cattle. Bait they must have in some iorm or other, and if it is sup. plied to tbem in suitable quantities and ways, they will take sufficient and no more for their own benifat. For about a month, says an h ngl'sb contemporary, from SOth June to 18tb July last year, three cows were kept without salt, and the milk from each weighed twice daily from the 4th tc the 18th ot July, when they gave 4541 b. From 18th July to lst Augnst the same cows received 4oz of salt each, and during that time tho milk showed an increase of 1101 b, tne weiy ht bein? 5641 b. From the experiment it appears that there was a considerable gain, which would pay admirably anyone to keep his stock well supplied with salt ; and it may also be added as another good custom to follow, to keep plenty of fresh water where it can be always accessible. Whilst the salt cost less than id, the increased milk was worth from 6s to 7s, a very large profit on au insignificant outlay. It may be that nobody who begins to place salt regularly before his stock will find such a large profit result from it as in this case, but it is more than likely that he may improve their condition to such an extent that the milk secretion will increase, and he will gain gome profit from it, even if not to the large extent which is shown by this experiment.