Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1878-01-09
farm AND FIRESIDE.
Shelter for stock in winter.

Shelter for Stock In Winter.
If we would have fine thriving
stock on the farm, nothing more
directly conduces to keep them in such
condition than caring for their CON-
fort; and few things more directly
tend 10 this end than suitable shelter
and protection from storms and cold.
Say what we will. store stock will res
pay any care given in this respect in
stead of being left to shift for thems
selves. This is so rational that it
needs no Illustration, especially to
observing persons, as the general con-
ditlou of aUy animal indicates the care
given in this respect. Why do ami
mails need shelter and protection from
cold and storms Has not Nature
provided them with a warm natural
covering which is added to at the ap
prOach of the cold season? True this
natural protection is given, but in
nature our animals seek shelter and
protection from cold winds. storms,
etc, by resOrting to sunny hooks or
wind and storm breaks of trees, rocks,
fences etc, where the system is sus>
tanned by material already accumu-
lated, thus reducing the condition.
All animals, IN a normal condition,
require a certain amount of food to
sustain the system but we find tbis
amount is largely Increased during cold
and stormy weather over what ia
needed 10 seasons warm and pleasant,
for the reason that Nature seeks t"
sustain the equilibrium by ;ucr aslng
the inward temperature To do this
there must be au increased consump'
ton Of carbonaceOus, heating material,
to provide which Que OF Two things
must be done: either the heat must be
provided by Increased consumption Of
clrbonaceOuS matter, or the system
must supply it from the carbon fai
alrea ly accumulated. When the tat
is exhausted, then The other accumu-
latio S must continue the supply uOlll
Natur, exnausts herself. \ W, If tn
animal is made comfortable by giving
shelter and protection, so that tue
temperature OF the system Is not 30 far
reduced, there Is less need o extra
food and the accumulati0ns Of the
system are not called upon to supply
Carbon, or fuel
My own experience and observa
ton, as well as those Of n"re accurate
experiInenterS, prove that stuck gwen
suitable shelter and protection, during
COLI and Indictment weather, gained IN
condition Oh leSs food than would keep
similar stock, when unprotected, from
actually losing condition In seeking
to protect our stock in stables etc, I'VE
must see that we provide tor good
yenrillati n, without which little com-
fort is realized by the stock, and the
beniiclal effects, Of good feed and
warmth are defeated.
In providing shelter, stables. etc,
reference should be had to the kind OF
stock for which they are provided
While a young or o d pig will thrive
in very warm pen. a sheep would
scarcely live, if live it did, under sim
liar protection. While horses, horned
stock and fowls need close, warm, well
ventilated stalls, and pens. sheep
should be less closely confined but
given shelter from storms. and pro
lection from cold winds, especlaIiy ~
with breeding animals. A comfortable
animal always ih"iv0N, whereas OF one
not comfortable the reverse is true. in
consideration, then, Of the facts as
above stated, would it not be economy
for all farmers, who have srock to
care for, to provide for them suitable
stables, shelter and rather than to com
pei them to seek only such protection
as they may find in shelter of some
straw or hay stack, fence corner, or
wood, where they may he seen doub-
led 10 the shape Of a dromedary, sbiver
ing with cold or wet, or both?
Stock provided with suitable shell
ter ETC., aud cared for as they should
be under such circumstances, during
the winter, will not only consume
less food hut will come out in spring
looking better, and in every way bet-
ter requiring less care aud consum-
ing less food in the succeeding sea
son than stock which has been less at
tended to.-The Rural Neu Yorker.