THE FAMILY COW AT THE NORTH.
BY MRS. G. BOURINOT, OTTAWA, CANADA.
She’s broad in her hips and long in her rump,
A straight and flat back without ever a hump,
She’s wide in her lips and calm in her eyes,
She’s fine in her shoulders and thin in her thighs,
She’s sleight in her neck and small in her tail,
She’s wide in her breast and good at the pail;
She’s fine in her bone and silky of skin,
She’s a grazier without and a butcher within.
—Milburn.
There are several ways of providing for the wants of a cow, but in all cases it is absolutely necessary, in order to obtain the best results, that certain rules be followed with regard to the treatment the cow receives. She must be fed and milked at regular times, be kept thoroughly clean, have plenty of fresh air and water, and her food composed of those substances that will keep her always in good condition, do away with the milk bill, reduce the grocer’s account, and contribute greatly to the health and comfort of the family. I have tried various things, and have found fresh grass or fodder, provender, bran, oil-cake, mangels, and hay, the best bill of fare for “Daisy” or “Buttercup.” Avoid brewer’s slops or grains as you would poison, for although they increase the flow of milk, it is thin and blue, the butter white and tasteless, and after a time the cow’s teeth will blacken and decay. I was told the other day by a very intelligent dairyman that after feeding his cows one season on brewer’s grains he was obliged to sell his whole herd.