Rensselaer Union, Volume 2, Number 37, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 9 June 1870 — Condition of Farm Stock. [ARTICLE]

Condition of Farm Stock.

The monthly report of the Department of Agriculture for March and April gives a generally favorable view of the condition of farm stock throughout the country. The mildness of the winter has been favorable to the health of farm animals, in exemption from the exposure of violent storms and the extremes of temperature, and rendering necessary a smaller consumption of hey and other feed! A very large crop of hay was secured last season, and its excessive production was quite general; the exception in quantity being the regions of the Atlantic coast, and the marked exception in quality that portion of the West which suffered from excessive rain, in the season of growth as well as curing As heretofore, it i- found that the cattle of the more northern States are in bqfßr order than those of the center and snutnern belts, simply because they are.bettGr sheltered and protected from ext>o*urf? Thay are also bet- * ter ted than those of the Central and nearly all the Southern States. The most healthy cattle seem to if be found in the States of Maine, New Hampshire,' Vermont, Michigan, Wisconsin, and Minnesota. They are not only sheltered, cared tor and fed with regularity, but the uniformity of the winter is a stimulant to appetite and conducive to health A large crop of hay, well grown and cured without damage, in the New England States,aided hy mild winter weather, has kept the cattle in that region in excellent condition. In the Middle States, farm stock wintered extremely well. From the Southi rn States, the reports are ganerally unfavorable, owing to drouth and other sympathetic causes. Exemption to this statement should be made in favor ol Texas, whence comes the report “ unusually good.” The reports from Ohio are generally favorable. In Indiana, the condition of ths farm stock may be placed at a full av<ra s e. A similar statement holds good in regard to Illinois. Cows appear to be in better order than usual in localities where cheese factory enterprises are flourishing.» Michigan has wintered her stick well. Returns from Wisconsin, Minnesota, and lowa are extremely favorable, almost without exception. In Missouri, farm stock are generally looking well. Catt’e are in fine condition in Kansas. Tn Nebraska, farm animals have generally wintered well. I n Southern California, a severe drouth parched the pasiurage and starved the cattle, causing the death of multitudes In the northern part of the State the pasturage was good, and the stock, therefore, in good condition. In Oregon and Washington Territories, the farm stock are in an average condition. In Utah, from various causes, the cattle very poor. Losses from debility, starvation, or neglect, have been less than usual during the past year throughout the country.