Pointe Coupee Democrat. [volume] (False River [i.e. New Roads], Parish of Pointe Coupee [La.]) 1858-1862, 1858-12-18
Animal Economy.

The following is from q communica
ton in the Southern C%uitivator, for this
month:
Every observing farmeris we'll aware
that those of our domestic animals which
are without suitable protection against
the storms and cold rain during the cold
winter months, consume two Or three
times the amount of food, in order to
sustain their proper condition, than they
would reqnire, provided they had the ad
,antages Of suitable shelters.
The nature Of the animal economy is
| such, that all of the warm blooded ami
mails by indulging in excessive feeding
lay by (if We may be- allowed the ex-
pressior) an unctious matter, called fat;
consisting Of carbon, hydrogen and oxy-
gen; and the higher the feeding, the
greater is the quantity of fat accumula-
ted. And when exposure or neglect
come upon the animal, this secretion is
brought forward to sustain life and to
keep up the general stamina of the AMI
NAL; when the animal commences draw
ing upon irs own resources for the sup
port of it's vital functions deterioration
Begins; and if long continued, great
emaciation succeeds, which is soon fol-
lowed by starvation and death.
Every farmer is aware that a fat ami
NAL suffers less from cold thanIa lean
one; he is able to see this to be the case
with the hogan animal with very lit
tie external covering. AS nature has
provided this animal with greater pow
crs than those of any other animal for
the accumulation of fat, she places it in
a position which is a sure protection
against the cold. But as for this ami
NAL in the Southern States, give it afree
run Of woods and pasture, and there is
little to fear Of their suffering from the
cold.
Dear bought experience has taught
many an unthrifty farmer the fallacy Of
rude log pen shelter in an exposed po-
sition for his horses or mules; he feeds
them plenty and often, and wonders that
his horses will not get fat, while his
neighbor feeds less and does less rub
bling and his horses are in much better
condition. The farmer is naturally at
lossst to account for this fact. Now, let
him examine his neighbours shelters and
the protection against the cold his horses
have, and he need wonder no longer
All, doubtless, have observed the differ
ence of condition in the horse which has
the benefits Of a good warm blanket du-
ring the winter months, and the horse
whose back was graced with one
& Tom Blankets shawls." Does our
reader suppose that the blanket has any
thing to do with this matter? Let these
planters who have made a short crop of
corn the present year and wish it to hold
ont as long as possible, in feeding horses
and mules, give the animals the benefits
of a good warm blanket, and my. word
for it they will see the difference.
With the caseao of our cattle, their case
is far more aggravated than that of any
other Of our domestic animals. | do not
mean to say that all neglect their ami
mails; but there are a great many who
do SO, to an extent which is as unpar-
dunable as it is inhuman. We may plead
to the hard-hearted master, until a faint
Espaek of humanity is kindled, when he,
with an ungratetul hand, throws a few
handfuls of sllucks or half-rotten straw
to his shivering, weak cattle, and this
usually in the mud and filth Of a dirty
COW lot. Cattle have naturally a deli
cate taste, and will not eat dirty food
unless forced to do SO by starvation
Can there be a very bright spark of hui
mainly existing in the breast of the man
who will use his cattle in such a man
ner? Have we not seen a cruel sample
of COW starvation in the recent 'tswill
milk" troubles, of New York city, and
can we not profit by it?
What can be a more disgusting sight
Il might say with truth, a more heart
rendrng sight-than topass a plantation
during the winter months, at midday,
and see the poor cattle standing in the
fence corners, shivering with cold and
hunger, and whose Ianguid eyes and
most pitesus raoans plead volumes for
better treatment? have often wished
that some of the dumb brutes could have
the gift Of "Balaam's Ass" for a short
time, when not a few of the unthrifty
farmers would hear an appeal that would
do far more for the protection OF our do
nestle animals than would a whole vol
ma Of the Cultirator.
4 man may plead for an excuse that
hessthas not time on means to erect shell
ters for his stock;;n such ought not to be
allowed the pleasure Of owning an ami
NAL Of any description. It is a charac-
~teristic of the, Dutch people, when abont
to makes settlement, to erect suitable
shelters for their stock, and they also
consider this to be the first very import
ant work to be performed. They look