For several years I had been experimenting on a small scale in soiling
cattle. My area of land, however, was exceedingly limited, being only
a portion of the kitchen garden of a city residence, but my success
was, even in this small way, so satisfactory, that I determined at
some future day to try it on a more extensive scale. My reading and
experience convinced me, that in our favored southern climate, a half
acre of land, intelligently cultivated, would produce a supply of food
amply sufficient to support one cow through the year, and circumstances
favoring, I determined to try the experiment. In April, 1876, I became
owner of a lot two hundred and fifty feet long by one hundred and twenty
wide in the rear of my premises—the greater portion having been used as
a grass plot for a horse. I immediately began by fencing off a portion
one hundred and twenty feet by two hundred, running a wagon-way eight
feet wide down the center, which, with the space occupied by the stable
(say twenty by thirty feet), left nearly twenty-two thousand feet, or
within a fraction of half an acre, for actual cultivation. The land was
a sandy loam, covered with a thick sod of Bermuda and other grasses.
Years before it had been cultivated as a market garden, but latterly
given up to grass; it sloped to the south sufficiently to favor good
drainage. In and around the stable was a goodly lot of manure, which,
during April, was spread upon the land—some forty cart loads. On April
twentieth the land was thoroughly plowed with a two-horse turning-plow,
and harrowed until finely pulverized. On May first, I planted one half
of the land in Southern field corn, in drills two feet apart, with the
grains about one inch apart. The rows were lengthwise, to render after
cultivation more convenient. On May fourth, sugar corn was put in one
half of the remainder, planting at the same distance as the larger
variety. May sixth, the remaining fourth was sown heavily with German
or “Golden” Millet, in drills twelve inches apart. Seasonable showers,
followed by warm sunny days, soon produced a vigorous and rapid growth.
On May fifteenth, a Thomas’ harrow was run over the first planted corn,
and six days later over the second planting, and over the millet. On May
thirtieth, the corn was plowed, followed by a good hoeing. A fortnight
later, a second and last hoeing was given. The millet was also hoed
twice, after which the growth effectually shaded the ground, and thus
prevented the growth of weeds. In the meantime I had repaired the stable,
and had a large door cut into the side next to the original lot, and
made a stall for our pet Jersey cow. The floor was cypress, three inches
thick, and sloped slightly from the manger. By actual measurement of the
space occupied by the cow—giving just room for her hind feet to clear the
same, a trough, eight inches deep, and fifteen wide, was made to receive
the urine and droppings. The stall was four and one half feet wide, the
sides coming only half the length of the cow, and just her hight. The
manger extended entirely across the stall, was twelve inches wide at the
bottom, and eighteen at the top, and twelve deep, the bottom being twelve
inches above the floor. The fastening consisted of a five-eighths iron
rod, passing from one side of the stall to the other, along the center
of the manger, and one inch from it. On this rod was a ring, to which
was attached a short chain that ended in a snap-catch, to attach to a
ring fastened to the head-stall—the head-stall being made of good, broad
leather. Usually, in turning the cow out in the morning, the head-stall
was unbuckled and left in the stable; to fasten again was but a moment’s
work. By this arrangement the cow had full liberty to move her head,
without any possibility of getting fastened by the halter. The bottom of
this manger was made of slats, one half inch apart, so that no dirt could
collect. For feeding wet messes, there was a box made to fit one end of
the manger, which could be removed to be washed without trouble. With
plenty of sawdust, costing only the hauling, perfect comfort and perfect
cleanliness were matters of course.
Attached to the stable was a lot fifty by fifty feet, where, in pleasant
weather, the cow was turned, but free to go in and out of her stall at
pleasure. In this lot was a trough, connected with the pump, where a
supply of clean and fresh water was always kept. Daily this trough was
emptied and thoroughly cleaned. A cow may eat dirty feed occasionally,
but see to it that the water she drinks is pure. Unless this is attended
to her milk is unfit for human food.
The manure trough being supplied with sawdust, the urine, as well as the
droppings, were saved and removed daily to a covered shed located in one
corner of the lot, where it was kept moist, and worked over occasionally.
Our Jersey was due with her second calf about June twentieth, but was
still giving milk in April and May. Her feed from May first to June
fifteenth, was the run of a common pasture, with a mess twice daily of
wheat bran and corn meal, with hay. On June first she was dried up for a
brief resting spell. June fifteenth we began cutting the sugar corn, now
waist high. This was run through a cutter (making cuts three-quarters
of an inch), and fed to her three times a day, first sprinkling two
quarts of wheat bran over the corn, and continuing the hay feed twice
a day. At the same time she was taken from the pasture, not to go on
again until this experiment was finished. June twenty-second her udder
was so distended, it was deemed prudent to relieve it by milking. This
was done twice a day for three days. Here, at the South, there is a
foolish prejudice against doing this, the belief being strong among
the ignorant classes that it will cause the death of the coming calf.
In some instances I have found it necessary to relieve the udder daily
for a week before calving; I never knew any evil to result. At dawn
June twenty-fifth there was a fine heifer calf beside her. As soon as
convenient the cow was thoroughly milked, and a bucket of water, with one
quart each of corn meal and wheat bran stirred in, and a pinch of salt,
was given her, and nothing else except water for twenty-four hours. At
evening she was again milked to the last drop, and the calf left with
her during the night. Next morning a small feed of three quarts of wheat
bran, and one quart of corn meal, made pretty wet, was given her, and
her udder again thoroughly emptied. After milking, a small feed of hay
was given, and a pail of water placed near. The calf was separated from
her, but within sight. At mid-day the calf was allowed to take her fill,
and afterwards the udder stripped. At evening, as the cow seemed to be
free from any indications of fever, or inflamed bag, she was given a
full mess of corn meal, wheat bran, cotton-seed meal, and hay. Her calf
took her supper, and the udder was again stripped; that night the calf
was taken from her, never to suck again, as fresh milk in a city was too
valuable to feed to even a registered Jersey. Having, in years past, lost
several very fine cows from over-feeding and under-milking, at calving
time, I cannot urge too strongly what Col. Geo. E. Waring calls “high
starvation” at this critical period in a cow’s life. If a cow has been
decently cared for up to the day of calving, she needs nothing but rest,
quiet, and a light mash,—warm in cold weather—for twenty-four hours, and
then but light feeding for two or three days. But be sure to empty her
udder completely at least twice every twenty-four hours, and if the cow
is a deep milker, then three times; with this treatment, the feed can be
gradually increased to all that she will eat up clean.