The Hillsborough recorder. [volume] (Hillsborough, N.C.) 1820-1879, 1856-02-13
Shelter Cheaper than Fodder.

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Notwithstanding much that has been writ
ten during few years past, especially in the
agricultural journals, on the true principles
of winter protection and feeding Of domestic
animals, tlere is still great amount Of costly
ignorance on the subject.
Last winter We chanced upon the farm Of a
man who possessed fair share OF intelligence
upon general matters, and we were not lit
tie surprised TO find him still clinging to the
old opinion that his stock wintercd better
when exposed TO the cold than if warmly
housed. lie kept no account Of the amount
Of food consumed, but his observation had
taught him, and truly, that his sheep, for in
stance. consumed more food in a cold winter
than in one of moderate temperature; and
he reasoned that if they ate more it indicated
better health and a faster growth Of flesh and
wool, and Of course greater profit. Follow
ing out his opinion, lie kept flock Of sheep
in an open field, exposed to bleak winds and
pelting storms. In this field he had placed
a number Of small stacks Of hay, to one after
another Of which they had free access, and
upon which they made rapid inroads. Their
only shelter was afforded by the leeward side
ol these hay stacks and by the stone walls that
surrounded the Geld, together with grove
upon the northern side that served to break
off the wind fram that direction, but from
entering which they were prevented by the
intervening fence. He was quite sure they
ate better when thus exposed than if housed
or allowed warm shelter around and under
The barn. His other stock were treated in a
similar manner. Instead Of warm sheds or
stables. they fed and slept in cold open yard.
lie said il kept them in better 'heart." aud
gave them sharper appetite. AS to the lat
ter be was doubtless correct.
But he, like thousands Of others, had drawn
his conclusions from false theory, which a
few careful experiments would have correct
ed. He should have considered that the pro-
fitableness Of keeping animals depends not
upon the absolute amount they consume, but
upon the greater or less product Of flesh.
WOOL, &C., obtained IRON given amount Of
nuirimcnt. Had be weighed his animals ID the
fall and divided them, keeping one part in
close warm sheds or stalls and the other part
in cold situations. he would have found that
+ the protected animals. while consuming less
focd, gained more in weight than the others,
and in May or June would have been IN ~.
perior health aud heart. In the case referred
! 10 il was found necessary TO give The sheep a
dose ni tar, By applying il upon the noses,
m the spring. to operate as tonic, and e
c0unteiact The " running al the nose" produc.
ed By colds, which sheep catch" as well a
4 men.
There Il a principle Of two involved il
\ feeding and nutrition which, il well under.
7Gf. kt.o all kn HaG he .E =
would render their labor doubly profitable
The food consumed by animals serves ;
double Or treble purpose. II supplies th'
waste OF The system produced by the natura
wear. of the various organs, and keeps Vi
respiration aud the resulting heat. What i
lett after these ends are served gncs to in
crease the Ilesh or weight.
The mcar depends upon the amount Of ex
ercise taken; hence The more quiet animai
are kept after allowing just enough exercis
10 preserve the organs IN healthy state, th
less will be the amount Of food required i
supply the waste.
lie heat Of The body results from the cnn
sumption 0f carbOnaceuus food, especially ID
oily and starchy portions. The nnion Of ih
carbon ID tallOw candle or lie lamp wit
. thc surrounding air. producing the heat an,
the fame. has an exact counterpart in tl
lungs and blop,l of the animal, when the a
drawn in II respiration uniies with the oil
. or fatty matter IN the biuud and gives heat |
J the system.
! On warm ,lay not much heat is rcmoYe
irum The surface u the body, and Tie anima
breaihes less rapidly and fully, and less II
/, il consumed 10 supply wasted heat.
!, II lie same amount Of oily fnOd IS consum
!, ell and dgesied as on cold day, there vi
be larger surplus 10 be stored aSay as ID
A. a matter uf course, the colder III
weather The lrss surplus cat Of profit will
obtained from Tie foud.
!. Another point usually overlooked i this
. IN Tic cOarsrr subsiaucvs. such a. hay m
= straw. consumed by animals, there i but
: small proportion Of oily OF earboniceous ma
. tcr, aid 10 get al this ii is necessary 70 d
!, grst a prodigious quantity of food. ThlsnS'
: taxes The digestive organs, and results
more or less debility.
We have here an explanation why sma
!. Ter quantity of meal, which supplies oil an
e starch, both uf which are rich 10 carbon. q
= chief hcat.prCduCing element, will Keep 9
4 animal In 80 much better health.
The principles above indicated. which Al
fully established BY both scientific theory ~
81 repeated experiment, lead 20 The errta
conclusion that. Cor all kinds oI animal
whether kept as stock or Tor fattcning, y
most profitable 70 furnish warm shelter. y
repeat. flock ot sheep or a drove u eatt
will without doubt eat much less fued a.
ii gain much more weight IL kept nearly