Buchanan County bulletin. [volume] (Independence, Iowa) 1869-1891, 1871-12-08

The long protracted drouth of
the Summer and Fall, and the dis
astrous fires which have left DESC
lation and ruin in their track, make
it necessary to prepare for tho ap-
preaching Winter before its rigors
commence. The great drouth has
not only scourged the pastures, but
dried up the roots Of the grass, and
in some soils has completely killed
the roots, SO that considerable
time must elapse before the fields
are again covered with a green
sward. The usual Fall feed is not
available, and the ensuing Summer
will be far advanced before the
pastures will afford their usual sus-
tenance for stock. 1t is better to
take the timely precaution of get
ting rid Of all stock for which there
is not provender sufficient to keep
them in good condition throughout
the Winter and Spring.
BY beginning at the proper time,
a great deal may be done toward
economizing provender Of every
kind. Cornstalks, straw, ETC., may
be made much more nutritious by
cutting and steaming, than by feed
ing in the unprepared state. At
the present price Of pork it is not
advisable in portions of the United
States, to feed much corn to hogs,
and those that are in the process of
fattening should be finished off and
disposed of before very cold wealth
err sets in, for large amount of
food is required to fatten animals
of any kind in cold weather. Pro-
viding comfortable stables, sheds
and pens for stock of all kinds in
Winter, is a very effective way of
economizing provender, for when
animals as exposed to cold, large
portion Of the food they consume
goes to form caloric to sustain the
natural heat Of their bodies.
A thrifty and successful farmer
never attempts to Winter more
stock than can be properly shelter
ed and we'll fed. When this is the
rule in ordinary seasons there is
great necessity of observing it in a
time Of extraordinary scarcity like
the present. On new farms on the
prairies it may be difficult to pro-
cure a sufficient quantity of lumber
to build suitable shelter for stock,
but when shelter is not available
the number of stock wintered should
be in proportion to the quantity of
provender on hand, SO that the ami
mails may have enough to sustain
their condition and keep up the
natural temperature Of their bodies.
In timber land, farmers have no ex.
cuse for not providing shelter for
live stock of every kind.
To be successful in wintering
stock it is necessary that the ami
mails should so into their Winter
quarters in good condition to i'm
prove throughout the Winter.
Every beeder Of live stock takes the
greatest care that no check is given
to the growth Of the animals while
they are young, by lack Of suita-
bic shelter, or .provender, and that
the Improvement in their condition
shall not be interrupted by neglect
at any time, or in any particular.
Stock Of all kinds lose condition by
exposure to cold in Winter, and in
some eases by the want of suitable
ventilation when confined in close
stables and sheds. Extremes are
dangerous, and a medium tempera-
ture with abundance of fresh air, is
best suited for sustaining the
health Of animals.
Provender of all kinds may be
economical by proper management
in preparing it for use. Before the
introduction of machines for cut
ting straw, hay, cornstalks, ETC., a
large proportion of this provender
was wasted by being pulled out OF
the racks and trampled in the litter.
The introduction of cutting ma
chinery prevents this waste, and
presents the food in so agreeable a
form that the health and condition
of the animals are improved by the
change. On account of mastication
being rendered comparatively easy
by cutting the provender into short
lengths, stock soon become fond OF
chopped food, and consume it eager
ly without any waste. When chop
ped provcnder is steamed and mix
ed with cornmeal, it becomes ex-
ceedingly nutritious, and very well
adapted for feeding horses and
cattle. For feeding swine the
superiority Of cooked, over uncook-
ed food, is so we'll known that in
many places extensive feeders have
erected mills and steaming appara-
tus for grinding and cooking food.
- Western Rural.