Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1876-02-24

the country is sufficient to convince anv
man that the majority of our farmers are
guilty, not only of such negligence as
amounts to loss to themselves, but of alb
solute cruelty to their domestic animals.
They do not seem to realize what they
lose every year for want Of exercising a
little more reason. They don't stop to
reason, but COON and perform their work
in the same manner day after day, re-
CARELESS of circumstances. I was lately
talking with two farmers-near neigh
bors-in regard to the returns which they
received from their dairy cows One of
these men, whom we will call Mr.. H.,
said: q MIXED nine COWS last season,
and they only made re S135. Some of
my neighbors figure up far better results,
but don't know how they do it,
Mr.. r. MIXED the same number of COWS,
sent his milk to the same factory, and re-
Ceived 1915, or difference of $240; and
this margin was mostly made by the diff
ference in care which the two diaries re-
ceived during the winter and early spring
months. Many farmer will purchase
COW that has been giving 5000 pounds Of
milk each season for two or three years,
drops off in yield to 5000 pounds, and
perhaps less. He is surprised as we'll as
disappointed, but he has no reason to be.
She was formerly owned by a man who
took good care of his cattle instead Of
handling them as it happened to be most
convenient, regardless of cold and storm.
Many farmer has read or heard that it
is more economical to stable dairy COWS,
and acting upon the suggestion puts them
up over night, but at just such time
every morning they are turned into the
field, miry barnyard, or wherever it is
most convenient, and compelled to stand
out until feeding time at night During a
recent trip through this dairy region, I
saw many-probably more than two-thirds
of the herds of dairy COWS upon the
road that received precisely that sort of
care. The thermometer was down to zero
and the wind blowing gale, yet [ saw
ners for want of warmer quarters While
SO shut out of the stable it is expected that
they will go off to some mud-hole to
drink, but nine COWS out of ten will 90
thirsty a long time rather than wade into
the mud and water during many such
days as we experience every winter Such
kind of stabling is no care at ell. One of
the best dairymen of my acquaintance
never allows his COWS to leave their sta
lies on cold or stormy day in winter. l
have known him to carry water into the
barn to his entire stock for weeks at a
time, and they pay him abundantly for
such treatment, during the following
season.
Nor is it sufficient to offer cattle any,
thing and everything that will bear the
name of water. No man ought to be
such a barbarian as TO compel his horse
or COW to drink water that he would be
unwilling to drink himself. Let it be
pure water and so located that cattle can
reach it without wading in the mud or be-
ing chilled through and through before
they can slake their thirst.
AS a rule, farmers keep their Horses de-
Gently clean, but, excepting breeders of
thoroughbred cattle, how many farmers
ever go into their COW stables with the
curry-comb and brush? The manure
laden sides of the COWS throughout the
country answer" not one" Cleanliness
is no less necessary for the health Of the
COW than the horse, and if it is profitable
in the one case it certainly is in the other
A little more care and attention in regard
to the points referred to will increase the
profits of the dairy in a surprising degree.
Be thoughtful, be human, and many of
your old errors will be easily corrected
and you abundantly repaid for all extra
care and trouble.-C. T. Leonard, in Ohio
Farmer.