The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1879-12-04

dition: Lice cause stock of all kinds
to be restless by day aid night; and to
fall away lii flesh. The idea enters
tanned by many farmers that the lice
found on chickens are of the same va
riety as those that live on cattle and
other animals is not correct. Nearly
every kind of bird and every kind of
animal has parasites peculiar to itself.
The fleas found OH dogs do not trouble
other animals. The lice that thrive
on chickens die if placed on cattle.
The lice that trouble hogs so much do
not trouble horses in the least. Though
these parasites differ in their manner
OF sustaining life they may generally be
destroyed by the same agency. Water
in which tobacco leaves have been
stepped, solution of carbolic soap or
kerosene oil will destroy both fleas and
lice wherever found. Snuff, fine ashes,
flowers Of sulphur, or fine dust of any
sort will, if applied several times ef-
fectually, drive lice away from animals
having fine hair, and from poultry. 1t
will not prove effective when applied to
hogs, as there is nothing on their skins
to retain it. If KEROSENE oil is used to
destroy lice, care must be taken not to
apply it too literally; as it may affect
the skin. Animals to which tobacco
juice or kerosene oil has been applied
should be washed with soap suds the
following day.
Water is quite as essential to the
well-being of animals during the winter
as food, and there is no good reason
why the supply should be stinted.
Some farmers manage to convince
themselves that it is only necessary to
allow stock to drink once each day dur
ing severely cold weather. They argue
that they suffer more from exposure
during cold weather than they do from
thirst; If they are let out Of comfortable
quarters: They forget that they them
selves find it necessary to drink eight
or ten times every day; and that cattle
will drink quite as often as men do if
they have the opportunity. If cattle are
denied access to water oftener than once
a day they will drink too much when
they have the opportunity, and will suf-
fer in consequence. Their thirst being
great, they will drink SO much that the
large amount of cold water will cause
them to be chilled. Farmers who have
the advantages bf. spring oh high
ground should conduct a portion of the
water into their barns and stables. BY
doing so they can water their stock
without exposing the. animals to
storms and cold winds. If water is not
conducted into stables tits Watering
trough should stand under an open shed
where it can be visited by cattle with
out great exposure. By having a well
under cover the farmer can save HIM
self as well as his stock from exposure
and suffering.
To winter stock economically it is es-
sential that they be protected from rain,
snow, sleet and cold winds. Some ami
mails will endure all these and still live.
But it is certain that they will not thrive
like animals that have dry and comfort
able quarters. The better the protec-
ton afforded animals the better they
will thrive and the smaller will be the
sickness and mortality among them.
The better the protection afforded ami
mails the less will be the amount of food
required to support them. All the food
devoured by animals during cold
weather is not employed for the pro-
duction of fat and muscle or for repair
ing wastes in the system. A large part
of it is required to supply what is known
as animal heat. II suitable degree of
warmth is supplied by means of suit
able building paft Of the food used by
animals that are exposed to the wealth
er to produce heat will be converted
into fat. Building materials are rela-
lively cheaper than hay and grain for
keeping animals warm, since the form
er will last lifetime, while the latter
will only serve a temporary purpose.
More than century ago Count Rum
ford demonstrated that the supply of
human food might be greatly diminish
ed by affordihg suitable protection to
the body. What is true of men in this
respect is true of domestic animals and
fowls.
Most animals require other protec-
ton than that afforded by buildings,
however warm and commodious they
may be. They ordinarily require pro-
lection from each other. The stronger
species are prone to exercise their SUI
periority over those that are weak.
Both cattle and horses will drive sheep
from their feeding and watering-place,
and appropriate their food and water.
So, too, animals provided with horns
will worry those that are not provided
with them. Mature animals of every
kind will drive younger ones not only
from the food and water provided for
them, but from the best-sheltered places
in the sheds and from yards. 1t is gen.
orally poor policy to keep cattle, horses
and sheep in the same yard unless they
have been accustomed to feed at peace
together in the same pasture. The
sheep, colts and calves that are injured
by the horses and cattle during single
winter will generally pay for the extra
fence that is required to keep them in
separate yards, where they may par
take of food and water and enjoy the
benefit of rest without being molested.
Young animals require and should re-
ceive somewhat better, or at least more
tempting, food than that offered older
ones, but If all of them are kept in the
same yard it is certain that they will be
compelled to eat the poorest food
thrown out, and only in such quanti-
ties as the older ones see fit to allow
them. So, too, strong animals will
monopolize the watering-trough, the
salt-box and the sunny side of the shed.
Everyone acknowledges that stock OF
all kinds require considerable amount
of food during the winter, but many are
negligent in respect to the kind de-
notSns but dry e corn, u While rs cae
are allowed nothing but hay, straw,
or corn fodder. As a rule, cat
tie receive the latter articles in
the reverse order. They are re-
served till the supply is exhausted.
Now, any feeder of stock would object
to having his food limited to single
article, however excellent it might be,
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