Ottumwa weekly courier. (Ottumwa, Wapello County, Iowa) 1872-1899, 1873-10-23
snei,erine stock I'm winter.

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Sheltering NtOck Ia winter.
In order to ward OF The effects OF
cold, We provide ourselves with COM
Portable clothing in Winter. Nature
has done the same for animals. II
furnishes them7 with covering of
hair or fur, orhas given them instincts
that in measure supply the want.
In some cases where the animal re.
mains semi-torpid. an under-coat of
fat is supplemented, as in the case of
the bear, racc0on, etc. Swine also ac-
quirc fat to an excessive, degree, and
their instinct causes them to lie close
together for the sake of mutual
warmth.
In order to create heat we cat fat
meat and oily grains in winter, when
exposed to excessive cold. The more
northern and exposed the climate, the
more fatty substance are consumed !;
for those substances contain large
amounts Of carbon. and carbon is the
great heat producer. Therefore when
the Esqnimaux or Grecnlanders drink
their allowance of train oil, they arc
operating on strictly scientific princi-
pie, only they do not know it but the
science is apparent never the less.
For the reason that this warmth is
necessary to tho animal economy, farm
stock of every kind in winter crave
grains containing much oily matter.
OF these grains there are none in the
West that are so economical to the
farmer as corn: for this grain contains
in an eminent degree the essentials of
heat, and i'm q fair degree the essen
tials of growth. 1t Is poor economy,
inview Of these facts, TO let cattle,
horses, sheep. or other farm stock,
winter on theslee- side of some bleak
hill, In fence corners, or in The open
stock field. For If veterinary science
is good for anytl,iss, ~ /. worth fully
as much, il not more. FOR The preven-
tion as for the cure of diseases. A lit
little time and money expended at odd
times would provide them with COM
Portable shelter, ward of disease. in
duced by exposure and hard fare, and
put money in the pocket OF the farm
er, to say nothing of the comfort OF
the poor animals dependent entirely
on the care of the owner.
A plant once siinted while yonug
never thereafter attains its full devel-
opcment. Ii is the same with live
stock. only in an intensified degree,
that the animal is worth more than the
plant. III the animal or plant Is al
lowed to stop growing while Young,
and become thoroughly poor, il tnever
thoroughly recovers, however well
| fed or cared for thereafter. Our most
successful and money making breeders
and feeders, understand that liberal
feeding from yonnglings, 10 maturity,
| is what insures the best profits in The
end. 1t will make g pig rs heavy at
ten or twelve months, rs it would 9TH
erwise would become at the end Of
eighteen months, and the full fed steer
| will be rs heavy at three years old, as
the indiilerently fed one will reach at
the age of five or six years. In the
| case of horses, especially valuable
ones, there is no question OF the econ
! omy of liberal and continuous feeding
with diversified colthood mp, for in
this case the muscular development
of the animal constitutes the principal
part of its value.
| 1t takes certain amount of food TO
supply the animal economy and the
waste is in proportion to the life of
the animal. AL over this amount goes
to constitute growth Ii costs just
| twice as much to prolong this waste
two years as it does one year, the ami
NAL being of given weight and the
other conditions equal. More carbon
is wasted in cold weather than in mild
weather, hence the necessity of con-
serving animal heat by providing
good shelter and quarters. Animals
SO provided for will be sleek and in
good condition, while those lily fed
will have staring coats and gaunt
forms, shivering with cold. Stable
men understand this, especially those
owning fine horses. These they keep
warmly clothed in winter. 1t is only
ono of the means Of keeping the AMI
NAL in health and preventing waste Of
tissue. Too many farmers fail to sec
this point. Those Who have kept their
stock out of danger heretofore should
try sheltering stock one winter, espec-
tally horses, and compare results over
former years. 1t will pay always in
money, besides the satisfaction of
knowing that you have done your
duty to the dumb bril,es under your
care, for "a merciful man is merciful
to his BEAST