News and citizen. [volume] (Morrisville, Vt. ;) 1881-current, 1882-12-14
WINTER CARE OF LIVE STOCK.

There are a few general rules for the
care of live stock in winter, which are
of universal application
FEr8t.-They should lie dry, whether
bedded or not. A dry floor is far better
than wet bedding. Spar or slat floors,
through which urine will quickly pass,
and which give the animals level stand
ing place, are especially to be advised.
A good degree of comfort may be had on
such floors, but a full supply of dry lit
ter-straw, leaves. swamp hay, etc.
certainly makes all kinds of stock more
comfortable
Second. Shelter saves fodder, wher-
ever lumber can be easily obtained, to a
cegree to which few practical men are
aware of. The warmer the stables are,
the better, except perhaps for sheep.
But with close, warm stables. it is essen
tial that the manure heap should be
where it viii not contaminate the air, and
that there should be perfect ventilation,
so arranged as not to cause drafts or air.
given with the utmost regularity and uni
formity-never more than, will be all
eaten up long before the next feeding
time. Then the animals have an appe-
tite for their food, so that coarse fodder
may be given, to be followed with better,
and by grain in some form, if this be
part of the daily ration. This is no
doubt the most economical system, Sc
curing the least waste and best digestion
of all kinds of fodder used in the ordi-
nary way.
Fourth. and care of the
animals are most valuable means of
keeping them in health as well as saving
feed. The skin of an animal existing in
a state of nature is washed by every
shower, brushed and carded by every
bush, licked by its mates, rubbed by the
ground in rolling, and in various ways |
Kept free from accumulations of its own |
from the stoppage of its |
pores by sweat, and from its own in
1erent dirt. A healthy skin means
warmth, health, life and vigor, other
hings being about right, and we can Sc
,re this In horses and cattle only by
grooming A straw brush, made by twist
ng up a thick rope of straw until it
becomes very hard and inclined to kink,
hen doubling it and twisting it into
tiff mass foot to eighteen inches long
'erhaps, with the ends tucked and fasten-
d, will do deal of rubbing before it
oes to pieces, and is for purposes of
r1ction, rubbing off mud, ETC., better
nan any other brush. Clean skins are
lst as important for cows as for horses,
nd the use of the brush is recommend
/ in the cattle stalls.
FEIh.-Sunshine Fresh air and sun
line are health-giving and invigorating
rinciples and not one of our living !
ependents should be without them. In
e thorough ventilation recommended, | {
'Od air has been provided for, neverthe-
IS all we'll fed animals enjoy and are 1
e better for air breathed out of doors !
ZEN ON our coldest days, and a sun-bath
an hour or two is of the highest value.
tables should be constructed with refer
ace to sunlight, and long narrow wings
II stables, both for horses and cattle,
ave in this particular a great advantage
yer basement stables under the whole
arm, as the former may have windows
II the admission of sunlight and air
their entire length.
iSirth.-Give all animals free access to
1T. With plenty of feed, horses and
leep will stand any degree of dry cold
lcident to the climate of the United
tates and Canada. Neat cattle need
lore protection, and it is really cruel to
xpose them unprotected to winter
Gather. Swine need thoroughly warm
ry quarters in winter weather, and will |
ardly survive exposure such as other
Omestic animals will bear perfectly well
o with poultry-while turkeys will bear
le severest storms and cold roOsting in
le most exposed positions, fowls seek
lelters either of thick evergreens,
= houses, and ducks and geese the
of the manure pile or the hay
ack. In sheltering all animals and
oultry, which we do from motives Of
economy, it is well to bear in mind their
atural instincts, that those which need
most are best protected.
IgriculttTist for December.