The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1881-12-09
MANKATo FREE PRESS.
FRIDAY, DECEMBER 0. 1881.
Earn, and Auusehola.
Water for Stock I'm Winter.

"Htf Stock III WINTER.
Many farmers are heavy losers by
their neglect to supply suitable means
to provide water for their stock dur.
ing the winter season. Some fall
into the habit of allowing their ami.
mails only one opportunity during
each twenty-four hours to obtain a
drink. On this occasion they are
often driven a long distance to q
stream or pond that is covered in
part by snow and ice. When this Is
the case Il part of the animals are
obliged to wait their run, till they
have become completely chilled by
the cold wind and the snow about
their feet. The smaller and more
feeble animals suffer most, because
they are obliged To wait the longest
time. They often become chilled to
such IN extent that they decline to
drink, and are driven back to the
barn to go without water for another
twenty four hours. Their food dur
ing this long period consists of dry
hay, straw, and corn fodder. Some
farmers who have water in their
iceding-yards only pump it once Il
day and expect their cattle to obtain
theii supply 1T this time. The water.
ing trough is generally lined with ice
on the inside. and the ground about
it Is covered with the same material.
Every animal that obtains drink is
subjected to Il chilling process while
it is endeavoling TO quench its thirst
Cattle and horses of different ages
light to obtain the first places to drink
and the stronger obtain the mastery.
The longer the water stands in the
trough the colder it becomes by its
contact with the ice, and the smaller
is the amount drank by the animals
that have waited the longest. The
animals after drinking water that is
ice cold remain exposed to the wind
and storm and often suffer very
greatly. Having but one opportunity
to obtain water during the day, they
generally drink more than is good for
them.
Animals of all kinds should be
allowed an opportunity to obtain
water at least twice every day in the
winter. All animals. men included,
desire less water in cold than in warm
weather, but when all the food is dry
Il considerable amount of water is re-
Quired to moisten it and to supply
the demands of the system for fluids.
All persons know the injurious eff.
fects of drinking large quantity of
water at Il time. 1t is as injurious
to the inferior animals as to men.
Water obtained from any other
source than spring will be neces.
sarily quite cold in the winter, but it
will not be cold as ice and snow will
make it. The watering.trough should
be emptied after all the stock have
drank, so that no ice will form in it.
Pains should also be taken to draw
off the water in such manner that it
will not form ice Oh the ground where
the stock will stand to drink. 1t is
always desirable to have the. water.
ing-place located under cover, and
thus protected from the winds and
storms. 1t is best to have the space
around it covered with plank that
can he kept clear of ice and snow.
Many dairymen and horsmen have
found great advantage in bringing
water into thir barns and stables for
use during the winter season. This
may generally he done without great
trouble or expense when spring-water
can be obtained and conveyed through
pipes. The water is comparatively
warm and supply can be had by
simply turning stop cock. The
cattle and horses can be turned out
To drink one ut u time, and allowed
to return to their stalls when they
are done drinking. BY this arrange.
ment the animals can obtain water
without being exposed to the cold,
and without being subjected to the
danger of being hooked, pushed
about, or of slipping OH the ice. Ami.
mails watered under cover during
severely cold weather are not likely
70 contract colds or to suffer from
diseases of the throat and lungs. II
stock is let out into an open yard to
drink during cold weather, only a
small number should he turned out at
once, 50 that the opportunity fol
quarreling may be obviated as far as
possible. During cold weather ami.
mails should be allowed salt quite
often, and it should he fed out in the
morning, so that the thirst it pro-
duces may be quenched before they
are tied up and deprived Ofthe oppor'
tunity to obtain water.
During the session of the National
Dairy Convention at Cedar Rapids,
Iowa, one delegate made the astound.
ing disclosure that 100000 packages
of Oleomargarine butter, of fifty
pounds each. had been exported from
that city during the year.
Madison, Wis, was selected as the
place for holding next annual con.
vention and the first Tuesday follow.
ing Thanksgiving day, 1882, was