The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1879-12-12
ORE OF STOCK IN WINTER.

Not half the farmers give this subject
the thought and attention its Importance
demands 1t requires more nice and
discriminating judgment to feed and
take proper care Of stock in the winter
season than it does to raise and secure
that feed in the summer season. This
NAV be considered by some an eXtrava-
giant assertion. but those who 50 claim
certainly take poor care Of their stock.
Two things are to be taken into account
In wintering stock. First, keeping the
stock in good. thriving condition sec
Ond ecOnomiZiug and saving fodder.
claim that by rconomizing ana Inahlhg
stock eat up close all the fodder given,
they can he brought through the winter
in better condition than when a s,oYenly,
careless method il pTactised. OF course
/ base these remarks on the idea that
fodder must he secured at the right time
and in the best possible condition. 1t
is very easy. by Overfeeding. to teach
stock Of any kind 10 waste their food,
and when that habit is once acquired it
is hard to break il up, especially with
Young stock. First, secure the food in
the best possible condition: second, fur
nish good comfortable sheds and stables
suited To the different kinds of stock
third. make good managers and racks, SO
there can be no possibility OF waste, and
then feed Just the amount, as near as
possible. that the different kinds Of
stock will eat. and if at the next feeding
time some is left not quite 50 much is
TO be given but If all is eaten clean,
then increase a little. In this way the
amount stock will eat can be arrived at
very closely. But when any is left that
vou don't expect To be eaten, always
clean it from the racks or managers, rs
the case may be. The idea is to make
stock eat all they will and not waste
ANY. to keep it in thriving condition, and
10y ccOuOmiZing in feed q tWOfOld gain is
made.
Every good farmer who does any part
ui his own work can put in his time to
the best advantage by taking care of his
own stock. and let the hired help do the
straight work in the fields or woods, foI
not one hired man in ten can be intTuSted
with the care of stock in the winter
time. either from q lack of judgment OF
the want Of care. or both. To be q
good hand with stock "a man must like
the business and have some interest in
it. lie must be gentle and kind, and
then the stock VIII like him and they
will get along tirst-ratc together. 4
hOWliug. wild. Uucultiyated fellow has
one that will abuse the dumb brutes that
God has given us for our most pressing
needs and las not given the tongue &c
tell the abuse they receive, IS not much
better than the brute himself, and never
-houll be intTus,cd with the care OF
stock
But the most critical time for stock
aud when most liable 10 lose in flesh. is
ut tHe last end Of grazing and first end
uf feeding time When pastures Gel
short and the grass Is injured by frOsts
stock of all kinds are liable to lose il
flesh. unknown to the careless and uu
observing farmer: and when stock los,
flesh in this way, tive times the amount
of feed is required To restore the los
that il would have required to prevent
IT. besides the set hack in the growth o
the stock The farmers who are tht
-uuSt liberal feeders do not always ob
tain tine best results. from the fact tina
they don't feed with judgment and uni
fnrmity. Calves and lambs when fee,
begins To- fail late iu the fall. shOull
have e small extra ration of some kind
So there WILDE NO check in their growth
Ind 30 the same time be taught to tax,
hold IF the regular winter Tatious. an,
prevent "a falling Oft, just on going int
winter quarters. Farm horses that lii
idle I'm the stables the most of the tim
iu winter are au exception to the rule
and should not hc fed all they can eat
Many farmers think il cheaper To win
ter their farm teams mostly Oh hay, and
with tHiS view. keep their managers ful
constantly. This / think mistaken
policy Many horses are spoiled 10y eat
ing too much hay. When stuffed TO
weeks and months. with hut little eNeI
else they grow pot-bcliicd. hair lookiu
rough and standing on end. luukiH
more like e hedgehog than a horse. an
m many Instances resulting in heave
and many other diseases. Scrimp
horse on hay and give some grain. and
viii keep in better condition for eithe
work or standing idie.-PrJrtic1I FU
a.tr.