People's Pilot, Volume 3, Number 32, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 26 January 1894 — Care of Cows. [ARTICLE]

Care of Cows.

As the Daily question is the one in wtiicb our couuty, and especially the part near Rensselaer is agitatiug at this time, how to manage cows is of first importance. The first requisite is good warm stabling, which will more than save its cost in one season, and when provided with stabling, the cows want to be kept there all the time, unless it is warm enough outside not to chill them, as every time a cow chills it stops the How of milk. If anyone is handling less cows than justifies keeping one person in special charge, it would be better to let the cows remain in the stable all the time, only when they are to lie watered, and that should be done twice daily. The water should be about near blood temperature, as any Hang that chills stops or lessens the flow of milk. Another matter is to keep the stable clean, giving the cows ample room, and make it a* light as you possibly can, putting thu Windows where liny will admit a much sunshine as possible. The next item is to feed them all they will eat of good milk rations. Bran is fust class, but should bo fed wit. corn meal, ground cob and all and from 1 to 2 pounds of oil meal daily. Good milkers are the best, but cows or- t,h*» above »atinns with good car will give good yield of milk or accumulate tlesh that will help to pay or even fully pay for the teed. The cost of feed wants to be counted and studied to have it the cheapest anil the best, which is, that which yields the most milk. The silo is claimeo to furnish the cheapest feed, and one that can be raised on the farm. Tin discussion of that will be raised later, as it could not be put into use until next fall. I am using wet starcb feed. It costs $4 50 per ton on the track at Marlboro, which is 20 cents per 100 pounds. 30 pounds make good rations, with 1 £ to 2 pounds of oil meal per day. 1 consider th;s 25 to 33 per cent, cheaper than the other ration, amt my cows are doin. bitter than they did on the othei. which I used before.