The Jeffersonian Democrat. [volume] (Chardon, Ohio) 1854-1865, 1861-01-04
VOLUME XII. NO. /
The Best Method Of winterins Stock
An Essay Read Before the Ctdr'don
Fdrn,srs' Club, 5y Lester Tdylor.

best advantage IS comprehensive ana IN.
wolves that Of humanity, in work Of
mercy. "The merciful man will be mer'
ciful 10 his beast" Economy in feeding
will lead US to consider appropriate food,
water, air, shelter, heat. comfort and
happiness Of the stock. What is tie most
appropriate food for stock That food
which will best develope bone, muscle,
flesh and fut, and the greatest amount OF
each Of those constituents required, ac-
cordiug to the age, and uses for which the
stock is intended. Young stock need food
containing most Of the bone, muscle and
flesh. forming principle; working oxen
and horses. that which will support the
greatest tissues Of strength those de-
signed to be slaughtered, the greatest
amount Of fatty matter. Chemists divide ,
food for stock into two great divisions,
one containing azote or heterogeneous sub.
stances, such as gluten, albumen, gelatine,
casein, legumen, fbrin the other, non
heterogeneous, as starch, gum, sugar,
woody fibre, muclage, &c. Muscle and
flesh are made from heterogeneous sub
stances fat, in great measure, from non
niirogeneous.
Feed an animal on oil cake, which be-
longs to the latter class, it will take on fa,,
but not develop muscle or give strength i
whilst Indian corn, belonging to the
former, rapidly developes the muscular
system, size and strength correspondingly
increasing
The selections Of food, combination Of
il, proportions and amount, are questions
of practical economy. Grasses are the
mos! natural and cheapest food for
animals, and must constitute their prin-
cipal food. Hav, then, for wintering
stock well, should be as much like grass
in summer, as it can be, after excluding
water sufficient 10 keepit. All the sac.
charine qualities preserved, the color and
taste must rot be impaired by dews, rains,
or much sunshine.
Why may not cattle fa;ten As well in
winter as summer Here, then, is the
great poiut--lhe vantage.ground for econ
omiGaliy winering stock. How many
cattle fall away 100 lbs. or / so lbs., in
the winter, when they should gain shat
amount ! With good hay, cut in season,
and saved as it should be, the stock,
having proper care and supply, might put
on the above increased amount. Arith-
metc, practically applied as to loss and
gain, and extra feeding on grain, especially
il hay is poor, might produce quite rev.
oluuou in wintering stock, with many
farmers. To feed some grains or vege-
tables to all growing stock would doubtless
paw well. Unquestonably, with hay fed
as it ordinarily is. (baving lost much o'
its nu:ritive qualities, recourse must be
had to more nutrilive food. Cattle aie
fond OF change. If fed with grain, veg.
etables should occasionally be given to
correct the secretions, nsuring health and
filing the system with corresponding
weight as well as growth. Every one
who has weighed stock when first turned
to pasture in the spring, and again in 6
few weeks after feeding on the tender anc
juicy grass, knows the great increase o
weight. Professor Salisbury. Of Albany
has stated that good varieties of apples
are richer than potatoes, and asss, more
in sustaining and building up the organic
parts of all the tissues of the body. Sew
era! members of this Club have fed apples
to their young stock in fall and winter
and are well satisfied that it is gool
economy. The books which this Associ
alton have ordered. will give an analyst
of the nutritve and heat-gving propertie
OF the different varieties Of grain, veg
etables and grasses. Such facts will b
valuable for correct data but, after al
the farmer will have TO fl out The detail
for wintering stock, according 10 crcum
stances, his supplies. and by close oh
servation and careful survey; learn, learr
and always be a learning by practical e1
perience. Plenty of good water and cor
veniently near for the stock. .and great car
in cold. snowy weather, that they al
driven. to it, as the increased amount (
dry food consumed requires muc
moisture for properly evolving the food
the stomach.
Our variable climate renders shelter K
stock absolutely necessary. for the
well.doing and wel,being. Our colde
weather generally follows soaking rain
their whole coating being saturated viii
wet, they shiver with chills and exhau
much Of vital heat and loss Of fat, (if the
have any,) and must consume great'
amount Of food to keep up increased con
cold on the surface and restore prop
eQulilDrium. lnceeu, u may Ue neCtsshl
to supply unusual quantities of heatir
food to supply the fuel necessary to he
the animal furnace, like Nebuchadnezzal
seven times hotter than twas wont TO
heated. 20 throw the life giving cure
through every artery and vein with su
ficient force to restore healLhful action :.
AS men travel north, their fondness
greasy food increases. In tho Arctic I
gions clear fat, whale or fish oil is d
manded to supply the necessary heat
that high latitude. II cattle, then, q
not sheltered from wet and cold, slarg
quantity OF food must be given. or th'
own fat will be rapidly exhausted in su
plying fue'.
One item hitherto neglected. must
urged because OF its importance--Be
ding for cattle. Let cattle choose tn
place to lie and they will take the grou
il it is dry, before hard floor. Put a
straw, hay. weeds, or anything dry a
soft on it, and there they will make tn
bod II /. mt cruel IN comnel The stc