OCR Text |
Show GOOD WATER FOR COWS. Reports of the Chicago health department de-partment that a dangerous epidemic of typhoid fever can be traced chiefly tohcrds of dairy cows and the equip-in equip-in en tolSalry plants that have been supplied water from polluted wells emphasize the necessity of a good clean water supply for cows not only for the dairy but fc the family use, says Drovers' Journal. The matter of an ample water supply sup-ply for success with the dairy is one that is frequently overlooked and especially es-pecially on the farm where the pro-ducton pro-ducton is not the main consideration. The fact being established that milk is at least 87 per cent water, and that the water must be supplied or milk cannot be made, it becomes evident evi-dent that the cow in order to produce most milk must be watered oftencr than once in 24 hours. Nevertheless, the rule is that cows arc watered but once ai day, and that out of doors, no matter how cold) the weather. The cow is a ruminant, and in order to digest her food must remtasticate it. It i9 said she cats, when, in fact, she is doing nothing of the kind, but is , simply gathering a quantity of food I into her storehouse to be soaked and s mixed; but by and by she goes into some quiet corner or 'lies down, and with eyes half shut spends hours chewing the food previously taken int her first stomach. Then, she is really real-ly citting. Rumination is necessary for refining the food- and mixing the salivo with it. In order to keep the contents of the first stomach in the right consistency for perfect rumination the cow should have water often. If the mass is too liquid or too solid she cannot use it to the (best advantage. |