1072. Parsnips productive of Milk in Cows.—Parsnips cause cows to produce abundance of milk, and they eat them as free as they do oil-cake. Land, 7l. an acre in Guernsey, is sown with parsnips to feed cattle, and the milk is like cream.—Sheep, when lambing, fed with them, produce much milk. They are improper food for horses, subjecting them to blindness.
1073. Most proper Food for Milch Cows.—Milch cows are infinitely more profitable kept in the house than out of doors, but they must be trained to it, otherwise they do not thrive.
The best food for them are clover, lucern, potatoes, yams, turnips, carrots, cabbages, peas, and beans.
Such cows as those in the neighborhood of London, kept in the house, and properly fed, ought to yield nine gallons per day, for the first four months after calving.
1074. Additional Quantity of Milk to be gained by keeping Milch Cows in the House.—In the management of cows a warm stable is highly necessary; and currying them like horses not only affords them pleasure, but makes them give their milk more freely. They ought always to be kept clean, laid dry, and have plenty of good sweet water to drink. Cows treated in this manner have given two gallons of milk at a time, when within ten days of calving.
1075. Utility of Carrots as Food for Horses and other stall Beasts.—Carrots are excellent food for horses, either given alone, or along with hay, likewise for fattening stall beasts. They make them eat straw, and very indifferent hay, greedily. If the same be given to cows, the milk will have a much less offensive taste and smell than when they are fed on turnips.