The Hillsborough recorder. [volume] (Hillsborough, N.C.) 1820-1879, 1861-12-18
From the Southern Field and Preside.
wINTERING CATTLE AND SHEEP.

From the Southern Field and Preside.
wINTERING CATTLE AND SHEEP.
Since beef, hides and wool are articles Of
much importance, to say nothing of milk,
butter, tallow aud mutton, the art Of winter
ing cattle and sheep deserves more attention
than farmers are in the habit of giving it.
The factory in Athens, Georgia, is now
working Texas wool, which cost the round
sum Of dollar pound and good butter is
selling from thirty to forty cents pound,
and is scarce at any price. Cows giving
milk are exposed to many cold rains, and
have rarely either corn fodder, hay, roots, or
meal sufficient to meet the wants OF nature,
and sustain a liberal flow Of rich milk.
Bad keeping has sadly deterorated both our
dairy stock aud sheep, so that flock Of 100
sheep which ought 10 yield 500 pounds of
we'll washed wool year, now rarely gives
$50 pounds Of unwashed wool which is
black with burrs and dirt. Cows that should
produce seven or eight pounds of butter
each, in week, often supply less than eight
ounces. The same causes that operate to
impoyerish the soil of the planting States,
affect live stock in similar manner. So
much attention is paid to one or two staple
crops that all the other great interests Of
agriculture are sacrificed without even an
adequate thought Of the extent of the injury
inflicted
!. In discussing the art Of wintering sheep
and cattle We do not contemplate that prac-
,ice which barely keeps stock from starving
till grass grows in the spring, and thereby
I destroys the symmetry and thrift Of domes-
tic animals, but that higher system ef hus-
bandry which improves all the natural func-
tions that render cattle and sheep valuable.
When farmers and shepherds in Europe be-
! gan TO provide good shelters and plenty oi
]. food for their neat cattle, horses, sheep and
swine, their system Of superior care natural.
ly developed improved breeds : and all ex.
tperience proves that to neglect domestic an
imals is TO throw away any substantial pro
gress attained in any breed whatever. Tn
rthe reader believes in breeding ami
mails dOwnwards, or from bad TO worse, b,
lould both shelter aud feed properly all hi
stock, but especially his cattle ard sheep
n Fifty or sixty sheep are enough 20 sleep un
= der one she'd. Construct more sheds an,
q pens if YOU have a larger number Of sheeI
10 winter. Provide lobg troughs on block
at suitable height. in which 10 feed pea
and oats TO sheep. which are better thai
corn but corn is better than no grain. w,
assume that YOU wish 20 raise as many lamb
as is practicable, and would rather clil
three pounds Of wool than two from ever,
sheep you shear next spring. II 50, keel
ihe ewes 10 themselves, and feed gill o
peas, or gill and half Of oats TO each ey
ery dsy for eight weeks before. and as man,
after, they drop their lambs. Dry ewes an,
wethers will do on a little less grain.
. sheep have not access TO pine tlicket, pin
boughs should be hauled into their lots Of
ten, a. fresh, green plants are adapted 1
their nature. Bright straw Of oats AM
wheat. and the cbaff Of the same are largel
ID fed TO sheep in New York during the win
!. ter. In the grain-growing districts Of th
North both cattle and sheep are mainly win
tered on this kind Of forage, with it'll
: meal or grain. Our experience goes TO sho'
that stock need protection from cold rain
in Southern winters more than from the dry
cold SHOWS ia the Norihern States. DIR
SHOWS does not wet the hides OF skins Of al
imals like rain, nor does il iniure them ha
v a. much, as ihey easily aud uniformly shak
Il the snow % their backs.
" Slabs make cheap she'd 70 keep raj
\. from falling on cattle and sheep in COZ
4. weather; but when saw.mills are distan
q and slabs are not to be had. plank, bnardi
or shingles must be used TO make she
3 roof, that should be open to the south. Th
back and ends Of the hoyel should be mad
of logs, as 4 matter Of economy. To kee
:. fodder Of any Kind from getting under Ii
=. feet Of sheep aud cattle. they should be &c
In on fodder in boxes. These are made .
fence.raiIs, small logs, plank or slabs. a
70. most convenient. All weak sheep aud cals,
should have a lot 10 themselves. When sa
is at usual prices We sprinkle brine oss
n cornstalks, shucks and straw for cattle, u
eii stead Of sailing them.
ill Good water aud plenty II IL, are poin
" not to be overlooked. Prof. Rutherford hi
cutters 10 catch the urine in his COW an
horse stables, which is wise arrangement
: We use forest leaves enough TO absorb a
Is liquids in both pens and stables. Our IA
tening hogs make good deal ot Eat msnur
All high feeding supplies the richest kind
plant food as well as cattle food. With
plenty Of good manure, IL Is easy TO raj
Lao turnips, peas, oats, corn and grass for stoc
,s The same barns. stables, and sheds that she
Ter cattle and sheep, protect also their drol
pings from washing rains. Sheds make io'
der and grain 20 a third farther 10 keepif
stock in good order than they will u led
for The usual way.