Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1871-01-06
Winter Care OF Stock.

THE whistling winds of winter admonish
the frugal farmer that the care of hisstock
Is now matter of the first importance.
He is pecuniarily interested in Its being
we'll done.
The whole secret of success in the man
agement of a stock of cattle in winter rests
with the farmer. If he uses judgment and
care in feeding, his stock will come out in
the spring looking well, and on much less
fodder than If no consideration had been
used in putting out the fodder. Farmers
often complain that their cattle waste their
hay-don't eat 1t up. The cattle come up
to the yards in such condition as they may
happen to be from the fullness of the sum-
mer and fall pastures, young and old, good,
bad, and Indifferent mixed together. The
fodder is pitched from the stacks, and
strewn over the yards and fields-or what
is worse, the stacks themselves left to be
fOraged upon by the cattle running loose
around them.
The fact is, 1t is the farmers themselves
that waste 1t. The cattle are not to blame,
when twice the quantity of hay is put be-
fore them that they need, if they do pick
out the best; but it is unjust to charge to
dumb animals the faults the farmer him
self is guilty of. Be saving of the fodder.
Do not stint the stock, give them all they
will eat, but no more
No farmer was ever made poor by pro.
viding comfortable quarters for his stock,
even though he ran in debt to do it; but
thousands have become poor by not attend
ing to this important matter. An animal
well housed in winter will thrive on much
less food than one exposed to storms and
driving winds. Indeed, no animal can
thrive that is not well housed in cold
northern climate. A well constructed shed,
facing the south, with protection from
winds on the west, by building or other
wise, Aill be sufficient shelter for young
stock. While we strongly insist on the
stock being warmly housed and protected
from cold draughts, both for comfort and
economy, il must be distinctly understood
that all our arrangements for the accom-
plishment of these objects should b. per-
fectly compatible with a constant admis-
sion throughout the building of pure at
mospheric air, without which the healthy
functions of the animal body cannot be
performed
Another important auxiliary in winter
ing stock is well stored root cellar and a
free use of its contents. Roots chopped
fine are the butter and the sauce they rel
lish with dry hay, as you relish those arti-
Giles upon the bread with your daily meal,
and the provident farmer will not omit
summer labor and culture to ensure good
supply for his herds.
A very large part of the mutton of the
British Island is made from roets. With
these the flock can be passed overfrom the
short pasture of autumn to the dry hay of
winter, without loss of appetite, and be
kept constantly gaining. They give the
farmer the means of changing food at plea
sure, and furnish full supply of succulent
fodder when it is most needed. With suit
able shelter and food at this period, the
iiocks will enter upon the winter in thriv-
ing condition, and will show the advantage
of the care bestowed upon them in heavier
fleeces and carcasses, if they are fed for
market and in larger and healthier lambs,
if they are kept for breeding.
1t is false notion that no growth can be
made during the winter, that stock can be
expected to only "hold their own" from
pasture to pasture. The farmer will do
well to bear in mind, that just so soon as
he allows his horses or cattle to become
poor, he is certain to incur at least, double
expense in restoring them to good condi-
tion. This is especially noticeable in the
case of mich COWS. When they become
so poor that their ribs stick out almost
through their skin, some folks seem to
think it is time to look after the shorts and
feed. They should have done it before.
When cattle are first brought to the barn
they should be fed the best fodder that can
be got at, not the poorest and when they
have become completely weaned from the
grass, then gradually introduce the coarse
kinds of feed, but at no time oblige them to
live entirely upon it. Many think that
when feeding the poorest kinds of fodder
they must contine cattle wholly to it, but
eat it, nor good economy even regularity
in their feed will secure the desired end.
american Stock Journal.