Dodgeville chronicle. [volume] (Dodgeville, Wis.) 1862-current, 1868-01-03
Winter management of stock.

A contributor to the american Stock
Journal says:
In treating of the management of
stock in winter, sail endeavor to lay be-
fore the reader such measures as shall be
most comfortable and convenient for both
stock and manager. In the first place it is
presumed that every animal has shelter of
some kind IF not, the first thing to be at
tended to is to provide stables or novels
or sheds for those animals that have none.
Feeding three times day is as often as
is necessary, except on very cold days.
Some writers recommend feeding four
times, and still Others would have man
20 and give his animals something to eat
five times day. think it is no more ne
cessary for stock to be fed four or five
times day than for the farmer himself.
Besides, if he were at work at distance
from his barn, it would be inconvenient to
go and attend to his stock every two or
three hours
The first thing in the morning after ris-
ing the farmer should go and see that his
stock is all right, and give meal or mixed
feed to those animals that require it. At
ter this is eaten, give all enough hay or
other fodder to supply their needs until
noon. After eating, the horses should be
watered and returned to the stable.
Cattle may be let out of their stables
shortly after finishing their breakfast, or
they may be kept up until nearly noon,
according to the weather. On fair day
ills better for cattle to be in the yard, If it
be dry and sheltered from the wind. At
noon water the cattle and give them fod
der sheep also should be watered and fod-
dered, and horses and swine fed. At
sr.If oil hn fol 1oc ,hN h<, rod
and well Uttered with straw or other ma
terial, the horses watered and fed, sheep
and cattle that are fattening, fed with
meal or provender and all the animals
provided with as much hay, stalks, or
straw, as they will cat clean without vast
ing. By this plan horses will be watered
twice, and cattle and sheep once day.
This will be sufficient while the days are
short; when they grow longer cattle may
be watered twice a day; sheep need but
little water at any time. On very cold
days it will be necessary to give greater
quantity of fodder than common, as the
animals require more food to keep up bod
lily warmth. During stormy days, all
stock should be kept under shelter. If cat
tie are foddered in the open yard, the fod
der should be scattered so that the "mas.
ter COWS" cannot appropriate it all them
selves. The work should be finished be-
fore dark, that there need be no use for
a lantern around the barn or yard. -
Horses should occasionally have few
carrots for variety, cattle also win do bet
ter If they have few beets, carrots, or
turnips. Calves should be fed little
meal and clover hay. Poultry must have
enough grain, now that they can obtain
nothing around the buildings or fields.
The stables for horses and cows should
be warm and dry, and well ventilated,
sheep need dry Place, but not so warm
as horses or cattle; swine should have a
pen with plank floor, and straw for bed,
ding, (oats straw should be avoided
for swine, if possible), and poultry, should
be provided with dry roosts and poles;
not so small that the birds toe will be un-
protected by the feathers when gone to
roost. sA 80
Other items might be added, but space
is limited. The observing man will see
for himself what is needed to make his
stock more comfortable than they are.