American citizen. [volume] (Canton, Miss.) 1864-1890, 1875-04-03
Spring Management of Animals.

Spring is critical time for all farm
stock that have been wintered in stables
unless care is used between the time
when grass begins to start and that sea
son when feed is flush and the weather
settled. Many farmers care for their an
imals during the winter with the greatest
assiduity, giving them plenty of feed
and water, and warm stables; but, never
theless, as soon as grass comes, turn them
out to shift for themselves, allowing
them TO lie out of nights, and often
during the severe storms so prevalent in
| spring. The consequence is, such cattle
and especially horses, contract diseases,
and often the foundation is laid for disa-
bility through life.
| The remedy is entirely simple and
ought to suggest itself to every man who
| cares for stock. Stable them as careful
| ly every night as you would have done
| during the winter, and until the weather
is settled, and thereafter stable them
whenever there are indications of a
| storm. This should invariably be done
with horses and colts. Cattle are not so
liable to injury and may he left free some
| time sooner if they have sheds to lie I'M
der, the roofs of which are water proof.
Sheep should never be exposed to driv-
ing storms, for although the fleece does
not wet through easily, when it does be-
come wet it is a long time in drying, and
if, being wet, another storm occurs be-
fore the place is dry, it again accumu
lates moisture, and much more easily
than before, SO the sheep are kept cold,
uncomfortable and liable to disease.
Another reprehensible practice with
many who depend upon English works
for information is trimming the hair of
the pasterns and fetlocks of farm horses,
early in the spring, to prevent the accu-
mutation of mud thereon and to save
washing when the teams are brought in
from labor. This would be no evil, or,
at most, no serious one, if the heels of
the horse so trimmed were we'll washed
upon being brought into the stable, and
then wiped and rubbed dry; but this is
SO seldom done in farmers stables that it
is the exception and not the rule. Where
it is carefully practiced there is but lit
tie need of trimming, except with very
animals, since the act of
washing the heels and legs, and rubbing
them thoroughly dry, reduces the length
of the hair, and keeps it short and thin
enough.
Let us look at this subject for mo-
ment. Take, for instance, an animal
clipped all over, as is often practiccd
with pleasure horses in city stables. The
horse is sweated, perhaps. Now, if left
to stand in the wind, without blankets,
the consequence is apt to be severe
cold, or perhaps some intiammatory dis
ease attacks the system. Let him stand |
in the wind without sweating, and he |
soon begins to shiver. Why?
In the one case evaporation goes on |
swiftly; and in just proportion to the
force of the evaporation will the tenn
perature of the body be lowered. The
pores of the skin close and the animal,
If not taken dangerously sick, suffers ex-
cessive Inconvenience. If the animal be
not heated with work the force of the
wind or the extremity of the cold carries
away the heat of the body faster than
he vital energy of the body can supply
t, and thus another source of danger
,nsues. If the animal be clothed suf-
iciently warm when standing, whether
n the street or the stable, and if the ami
nal be properly groomed when taken
rom work, no inconvenience viii result. |
If, however, the hair of the animal be
ong, as it always is in winter when the
lorse is exposed to the weather, the heat
# the body is entangled in the hair, and
hus evaporation goes on equally and
he heat of the body is conserved. So
yith the long hair on the heels. 1t is
99lssed there by nature, and serves a
frouMe purpose: First, it prevents mud
I'm scking to the skin to any great de-
any. second, when once wet the
IAN PtfexeA.s chilling by the entangle-
NM VI hea! Next the skin So also the
ons mars winch yrow in the hollow I'M
l ha ' M, Jams ana IN the neck and along
Tipped or si na a ON ia should never be
ire placed there for sp.riaI nnr,nse2
he protection of the animal.
1t is true there is wide din.rence Of
opinion in regard to trimming IT, heeis ,
# horses. 1t is contended by some hat |
he long hair keeps the skin wet and cUJ
or long time, thus giving rise to scurfy
leels, scratches, grease, and other dis
ases attendant upon this state. But
hose who will take the trouble to ex-
khe matter impartially Will find :.
hair NAV remain !