Tre Treatment of Cows.

Kaikoura Star, Volume XIV, Issue 743, 1 June 1894, Page 3

Tre Treatment of Cows.

Some experiments made lately at an American rural university illustrate the benefit of shelter for milch cows. From January to March, 1893, three cows were kept in tbe barn, and three cows were exposed to the weather. The cows exposed to the weather ate more food than those kept under shelter, they lost weight while the house cows gained, and gave less milk, there being a difference of 13dol. in favour of the sheltered cows. The directors of the university caused large placards to be printed giving these results, which were posted in prominent places to attract the observation of farmers. Tbe exposed cows were sheltered at night, and the housed cows were given an hours exercise on pleasant days. Why should we protect animals ? Because every cruelty the animal suffers just before death poisons tbe meat. If you throw stones at a cow, or frighten or injure her, it goes right to the milk and poisons it. Knowing that a cow has been badly treated it is not advisable on any account to drink her milk. In Switzerland, it is said, they will pay higher wages to a milkman who cun sing to the cows than to one who cannot. In the ball where a large American dairymen's association holds its meetings they have put up a great sign on the wall : • Always speak to your cows as you would to a lady. ‘ Hot water for cows,’ is the maxim of the French dairy farmers in the Department of Finistere. They claim to have proved by experiments that when cows drink hot water they yield one-third more milk than when they are refreshed with cold water only. Caution must, of course, be observed in adopting the new system. Avaricious dairymen must beware of scalding tbe tbroatsj of tbeir cows in their haste to avail themselves of this discovery, which is vouched for by our Consul at Brest. Tbe proportions are stated to be half a pail of boiling water to a pail of cold.