THE MANAGEMENT OF DAIRY STOCK.

Globe, Volume XXII, Issue 2014, 7 August 1880, Page 4

THE MANAGEMENT OF DAIRY STOCK.

In a paper on this subjeot, recently read by Dr. A. 8. Heath, before the New York Farmers' Olub, many valuablo suggestions were made upon the subject of feeding dairy stock. Grass causes the most liberal secretion of delicious milk. But this condition of young succulent, and plentiful grass cannot be relied upon as alone sufficient food for the largest milk production for more than sixty days of the whole year. The rest of the 305 days the cows must have extra feed. This must consist of different kinds of fodder for the different seasons. In the early season green rye, green oats, earlier and later roots, green corn, and hay. But green corn cannot be properly fed till in early tasele, nor should corn meal bo fed in hot weather, nor for the same reason should cotton seed meal and linseed cake be fed until the cool or cold season, for lees animal heut is required to be supplied to the oow. Pure water 'and salt must be supplied to milch cows ad libitum. ; as 87 per cent, of tho milk consists of water, and where salt is sparingly supplied the digestive powers of the cow are enfeebled, and the milk is defective in keeping quality, and probably, also in quantity and quality. Oare, kindness, quiet, moderate exeroise, regular and judioious feeding, are all important factors in milk supply. The largest percentage of flavor in cheese and butter are found in young grasses, but in very young foddcr-oorn those essential qualities—caseine, butter, sugar, and aroma—are defioient, but improve up to the time of early flowering, whon the sweet corn-fodder is nt its best, and should be fed with shorts or brast sprinkled over the cut and wilted fodder. Green oats is a good soiling crop, and bran is an admirable food in a, slop. It produces a large quantity of milk, and it can be fed with safety in the hottest weather. Meal may be added to bran as the weather becomes cooler. Milk removes much phosphate of lime, and the pastures should be sown with ground bonea or rook phosphate of lime. Wool removes sulphur, and therofore sheep pastures are improved by plaster or sulphate of lime. Ashes and salt are of tho highest value to pastures. But lahen the pastures havo too far failed, it is better economy to plough thorn up as fast as possible, and sow them to pasture grasses and seed to oats, to shade the young shoots and tender roots. Meadows may be pastured in the dry season after the crop has boen removed ; but never in the early spring or late fall. The air supplies moßt of the organic matter, and thus helps to keep the land good when we sell off part of the products, which are a part of the farm or soil itself. Good milk requires good sound food, and a large yield of milk requiros a large supply of good sound food. Warm and airy stables, great oleanliness with the animal and hor products, judicious feeding of cowe, and feeding of pastures, are the indispensable means to supply milk in quality, quantity, and soundness, capable of esisting decay.