The daily Cairo bulletin., 1882-01-11
Water for Stock in Winter.

Many farmers are heavy losers by
their neglect TO supply suitable means
TO provide water for their stock during
the winter season. Some fall into the
habit of allowing their animals only
one opportunity during each twenty
four hours TO obtain u drink. On this
occasion they are often driven long
distance TO a stream or pond that is
covered in part by snow and ice. When
this is the case a part OF the animals
are obliged to wait their turn, till they
have become completely chilled by tho
cold wind and the snow about their
feet. The smaller aud more feeble an
imals suffer most, because they are
obliged to wait the longest time. They
often become chilled to such an extent
that they decline TO drink, and are driv-
en- back TO the barn to go without water
for another twenty-four hours, Their
food during this long period consists of
dry hay, straw, and corn fodder. Some
farmers who have water in their feed
ing-yards only pump it once day and
expect their cattle TO obtain their sup
ply at this time. The watering trough
is generally lined with ice on the in-
side. and the ground about it is covered
with the same material. Every animal
that obtains a drink is subjected to a
chilling process while it is endeavoring
to quench its thirst. Cattle and horses
of different ages fight to obtain the first
places to drink and the stronger obtain
the mastery. The longer the water
stands in the trough the colder it be-
comes 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 10 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 al
lowed an opportunity to obtain water
at least twice every day in winter. All
animals, men included, desire less wa
ter in cold than in warm weather,
but when all the food is dry a consider
able amount of water is required TO
moisten il and to supply the demands
of the system for fluids. All persons
know the injurious effects of drinking
a large quantity Of water at a time. 1t
is as injurious 10 the inferior animals
as to men. Water obtained from any
other source than a spring will be ne
cessarily quite cold in the winter, but it
need not be cold as ice and snow viii
make it. The watering trough should
be emptied after all the stock had drank
so that no ice will form in it. Pains
should also be taken TO draw off the
water in such a manner that it will not
form ice on the ground where the stock
will stand to drink. 1t is always desir-
able to have the watering 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 be kept clear of ice and
snow. Many dairymen and horsemen
have found great advantage in bring
ing water into their barns and stables
for use during the winter season. This
may generally be 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 sim
ply turning stopcock. The cattle
and horses can be turned out TO drink
one at time, and allowed to return to
their stalls when they are done drink
ing. BY this arrangement the animals
can obtain water without being ex-
posed to the cold, and without being
subjected to the danger of being
hooked, pushed about, or of slipping
on the ice. Animals watered under
cover during severely cold weather are
not likely to contract colds or to suffer
from diseases of the throat and lungs.
If stock is let out into an open yard to
drink during cold weather, only small
number should be turned out al once,
so that the opportunity for quarreling
may be obvated as far as possible. Dur
ing cold weather animals should be al
lowed salt quite often, and it should be
fed out in the morning, so that the
thirst it produces may be quenched be-
fore they are tied up and deprived OF
the opportunity to obtain water.