Bradford reporter. [volume] (Towanda, Pa.) 1844-1884, 1859-12-15
farmers department.
The Care of Stock in Winter.

"a righteous man regurdcth the life of his
beast but the tender mercies Of the wicked
are crnel" Every farmer knows that the
health 0f his cattle next Spring will depend
much upon their management through the
Winter. Their treatment for abont six months
to come, shut up and fed on dried food, is an
artificial one aud needs to be well conducted.
1t is said that more than $500, 900, 900 are in
vested in live stock in this country is not
that investment worth looking after II is
hcldtoo, that IL costs about half The ralue of the
stock 10 Winter u hence, there are some three
hundred millions of dollars to be fed out, be-
tween this month (Decemher) and next May.
Now, if that sum can be reduced by good eco
nomy, would it not be a great benefit to the
farming community? We believe that some
Of the money can be saved. How saved?
l. By providing good shelter for stock
Every man knows that exposure to a cold
wind ia Winter (even though he does not ex-
ercise much) gives him an enormous appetite.
The carbon in bis system is expended in keep
ing up his vital heat, and he needs new and
large supply Of food to restore the waste. So
with animals. If they are kept out of doors.
exposed to severe winds and frosts, they will
be compelled to eat much more to keep them
selves warm, they would If well housed in
sheds and stables If they have only fodder
enough to keep up their animal heat, they will
decline in 6esh and of course in value. Far
mers not at all given to exaggeratiou, assure
US that they find it loss of one third of their
fodder to try Winter their stock without ade-
quate shelter
9 Consider, too, the waste of food by its
being trampled into the wet ground, by irregu
lar feeding as to quantity and time, also the
effect of lying on cold, wet ground, with little
or no bedding, and other wasteful practices
which generally accompany the neglect of pro-
viding shelter. Do not cows give more and
better milk do not horses and oxen work bet
ter do not sheep improve more in flesh and
wool and do not pigs fatten quicker, if kept
in comfortable quarters and well fed, than if
treated with neglect? We have seen horses
and cattle that bore, for several years, the
marks of bad treatment for q siIgle Winter
They were stnted in their growth, or they con-
tracted diseases from which they never fully
recovered. Penny wise and pound foolish" /"
as Dr. Franklin would say.
Horses are not as apt to be neglected as
other stock but even they sometimes suffer
from being kept in too close and foul stables
and in being irregulary blanketed and curri-
ed. Their stalls should be cleaned twice every
day, and supplied with good dry litter at night.
Provision should be made for letting in fresh
air on the least windy side of the barn, and
the opening not very near to the horse-stalls.
The curry.comb should not be allowed to rust
for want of use, and this should be followed by
good wisp of pea-straw and the brush If
the horse is blanketed at all, it should be done
the Winter through, by no means neglecting
the times when he is heated after working
Cows should have special care. Those
with calf should have no sort of harsh treat
ment from men, or dogs, or other cattle
Their food should be plentiful and nutritious
Remember that their own future condition and
that of the coming calf depends on their man.
agement at this critical time. BY no means
deny them the comfort of stable by night
Milcb cows Shonld have an abundance of food
and pure water-that from a running spring
being better than water from a well They
should be fed and MIXED at regular hours
Roots should from a stated part of their fod-
der, and if these give out, they should have
messes of shorts, m meal and fax seed cake If
their hides get an occasional cardng, it will
do them no hurt
Cattle and sheep should not be neglected,
either as to shelter or food, if you would have
them return a profit.