The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1881-12-31
Watering Cows in Winter.

How often should cows have water in
winter, and when should they have iii
Is once day enoughP are questions
which are often asked. Cows, as well
as other stock, should have water when
ever they desire it, no matter how often
They need it especially after every meal
of dry fodder, particularly after filling
up with dry hay. Cows which live ex-
clusively on dry hay should, of course,
have drink more than once day. The
character of the food determines the
amount and frequency of supply re.
CURED. Cows living largely upon pump
kins, which are ninety-for per cent.
water, get enough of it in their food, and
do not need to drink at all When they
live upon fodder corn, which contains
lightweight to ninety per cent. water,
they drink but seldom; but when living
upon grass, which contains seventy-ive
per cent. water, they drink often and
suffer if they do not get water frequently.
In the flush of feed in June, when grass
is the most succulent and juicy, COWS re-
quire drink several times day, and fall
off in their milk if they do not get it; and
their milk will shrink more from being
pinched for water than if pinched in
their food supply. Hcows need water sew
eral times day when using such watery
food as green grass, how much more must
they need it frequently when living upon
dry hay, which contains sixty per cent
less water than grass. The fact is, water,
whenever desired, is more important
than food. Our domestic animals suffer
and depreciate less from lack of food
than from lack of water. Such re-
suit might easily be inferred from the
discomfort and suffering people under
60 when deprived of water too long.
The use of water for domestic animals,
and the part it plays in the economy of
life, seem not to be understood, or, at
least, not to be fully appreciated by some
farmers otherwise well informed, as we
judge from the little pains they take in
supplying it to their stock. The offices
which water serves in the purposes of
the animal economy are numerous and
important. This must be apparent
from the fact that fully three-quarters
of the bodies of all our domestic animals
consist of water. There is not tissue
or part of the body, solid or liquid, of
which water does not form component
part. All the secretions and excretions
are carried on through the instrumental
ity of water. But for the water
in saliva we could not swallow
our food, and it is equally neces-
sary for digestion because it is essen
tial to the solution of all nutrient matter.
1t acts as common carrier for convey
ing the digested food from one part of
the body to another, and for carrying off
and discharging the effete matter and
waste of the system. 1t is also essential
for equaizing the temperature of the
different parts of the body, which it does
through the circulation of the blood. In
short, all the functions of the body are
carried on through the agency of water.
There is nothing which more effectual-
ly impairs the secretion of milk or the
fattening of an animal than lack of
water. Cows cannot endure either heat
or cold so well when thirsty as when not,
and vigor begins at once to fail when the
supply of water becomes defective. From
every point of view, water is Of the ut
most importance in sustaining animal
life. It IS true, an animal can 1--we some
time without it, as it can without food,
but it is SO evidently essential to its well
being, that no dairyman, who studies
the best interest Of his herd, will compel
il in winter, when living upon dry fod-
der, to go longer without water than
without food. National Liue Stock Jour
asat.