Dodgeville chronicle. [volume] (Dodgeville, Wis.) 1862-current, 1868-12-18
Wintering Stock-Barns and Sheds.

Lewis F. Allen, in his Anaertc0n C0t|e,
presents few facts respecting the econo-
my of providing good barns, stables and
sheds for wintering and feeding of stock,
and throws in hint concerning the ar
rangement of them, all of which every
sensible farmer will regard as more or less
valuable:
"Living in the latitude Of 43 deg. north,
we believe in barns and sheds for all kinds
of farm stock alike9 and so we would II
in the latitude of 81 deg,-anywheTe IN
fact, where the snow lies on the ground
for three days at q time, and the Fahren-
heit thermometer holds, for any length OF
time, as low as 90 deg above zero. SUD
den alterations of heat and cold affect
cattle, as they do men-not to the same
extent as they do the latter, but measure
bly, so. .:.. ..-.. ..t.
"Cattle eat much more in low tenn
perature than high one, and are subject
to take cold with sudden changes OF the
weather. Fat cattle are less affected by
sudden changes of the weather than lean
ones-but these changes do affect them
more than we are usually aware. In view
of these facts, we consider itsound economy
for every cattle breeder, grazier and stall
feeder to provide good barns, stables and
sheds for winter keeping and feeding
of his stock. The arrangement OF these
Is branch rather foreign to our general
subject and may better belong to farm ar
chitecture than this; embracing also the
management of manures and various other
matters belonging to the department. OF
farm husbandry-yet we may safely give
a few hints concerning them. Isl b. ~
eve believe that in any part OF the
country where winter forage is required
for farm stock, it will pay the farmer for
building barns, stables and sheds for his
store cattle during the winter. For dairy
COWS, tight barns and stables are in
dispensable everywhere, and we are hap
by to say that the latter are almost
everywhere found in well managed diaries,
We believe it sound economy to provide
such shelters. In the barns, aside from
storing the fodder and grain, the stables
may be cheaply arranged, with sufficient
managers for feeding. Two cattle may
stand in stall, six to seven feet wide, ac-
cording to their size, andgeach animal tied
to his own side of it, with space for the
feeder to go between; or standards, with
out partitions may be used if preferred.
The food may be thrown into the manager
in front, and the corn. stalks, as drawn in
from the field, cut off just above the ear,
1.-THE stalk below the ear Is worthless for
fodder). This cutting may be rapidly done
by knife, something like q butchers
cieaver, though lighter, by laying the
stalks on a block, or better, in cutting
machine. 1atF75 2i4y "-L}
"The beasts may be bedded with straw
and quantities of the best manure made.
Thus the cattle are kept snug and warm,
while in good weather they can range in
the yard through a part OF the day, and
take their water at pleasure.
"Sheds may be built eight, ten or twelve
feet high, with good managers in their rear,
for their hay or corn fodder, and open in
front to go out and in at pleasure. 30
with calves, only their accommodations
should be closer and warmer. We are
aware that long practice, cheap lands and
low prices for grain, have led the mass OF
our western farmers to think all this pre-
paration useless; but they will come to 1t
at last, and wonder they had not known
it before. Thrift in their stock and a
saving in the expenditure of their forage,
will soon solve the question of its superior
economy, as also in the lightened labor OF
taking care of them, and the retention OF
stores of manure, which is everywhere
valuable, though not now appreciated. Ii,
to the housing of their cattle, sufficient
roofing to protect their stores OF hay ana
grain is added, an equal advantage VIII De
found in it." s 4sea, lfs .i3