Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1866-01-16
Winter Care of Colts.

Colts, perhaps, are generally the worst neg
lected stock on the farm. No profit is expec ed
from them for year or two ia advance. They
are fat in the beginning of winter, from having
had nothing to do but eat on the rich pasture
through the summer. So when they are brought
to the barn-yard they must live at the straw
stack, and or portions OF fodder refused by
other stock. Instead cf keeping their flesh aud
growing finely, they gradually tall away under
Ibis treatment. The coat becomes rough and
staring the ribs and bones protruG=; lice Ia
fest them, and often they have barely strength
to to.ter to the field when grass grows again.
This is a cruel and Improbable way of winter
ing colts. Their growth is checked and they
never make valuable animals they would
under more generous treatment. They do not
gain strength and maturity so early, and con-
sequently cannot be put TO labor at yonng
an age, as IT they had been well kept Their
spirit is lessened and frequently disea induced.
The rule Is. keep your colts thriving con-
stantly until they are fully grown. They do
not require food TO fatten them like steer, but
to make muscle and bone. They should never
he tied on foor 10 q stable long at time.
Nor should they the same vard with
osher stock anoDg cattle. iis they are very lia-
bic to De gored, and " hen they master the cattle
lhey drive them too much. They should not be
tolerated at all with sheep If you wish to
confne them IN a stable, the bcs; way is TO give
them as much room as possible and no. tie them.
GIVE them earth for floors, AMI litter it plenti
fully with straw. Two or three, or more, colts
may be kept together, if the room b. sufficient.
la the spring you will find u valuable BET OF
manure under them. 1t is good pan 50 stable
them thus in the day time when thc cattle are
out In the yards and on pleasant nights, when
the other stock is in the stables, l.; the colts
run IN the yard for exercise, ani r. pi94 q 5i-
der III It may be efr, and forage i, ,iso s.rlw
stack. They should, h0weve., have sufficient
hay 10 keep them thrvinG, and SOM -TJuni
oat3 in addition. Oat5 make more muscle t an
any other gram, hence they are the best i5ci
for horses. 1t pays to feed them sJme ground
gram II you diminish their food IL the mean
| time, and when they shedding their TEEN
1t IL difficult 10 keep them IN good coldliI IN
without it.
Colts are necessary evil on firm. Tnera
is nc other stock go costly 10 keep; - hard -
contne within proper limits 90 destructive 20
ieBces and enclosures So uncertain u giying
an ultimate profit, and 50 utterly wJF hess 10
case of being disabled by accident. They are
close feeders grass. biting low IS a sheep,
and seeking invariably the poorest, highest spots
where The heritage Is sweet nor do Shey enrich
the land IN which they fee1 like sleep. The
latter spread their manure evenly over the i-l II,
and lertlliZs the kaolls. BY choosing snein TOR
their resting places during the nishs. Bar
while horses are the hardest fee ers taeg are
likewise the poorest fertilizers Of the PAS rIre-
IN which they oam.-.uOore' s RurGi Ne,c York