The Red Cloud chief., 1885-12-18
STOCK IN WINTER.
The Care. Food and shelter N.ieh II
Hhoaid Receive.

Asa rule cattle and sheep do not
gain in weigh; or condition during the
winter. In many cases they weigh less
in the spring than they did the previous
fall. The mortality among them -
much greater during the cold than the
warm weather. and the cases 81 sick
ness are more numerous as well g. So
we're. Horses generally come through
the winter in good condition in respect
TO flesh and strength. no; because ihoy
/ are more hardy than cattle and sheep
for the reverse Is true. but because they
are better treated. They are KEEP; in
warm stalls e.en II the other farm ami
mals ere len exposed % storms. are
carefully g-oomed. and covered with
blankets chen il Is very cold. and are
fed on the best the farm and granary
can supply. They are not exposed Ia
the cold for any considerable length of
time tor the purpose Of obtaining
water, and in many cases water /,
brought 10 them II the weather is very
cold. Farm horses. As q rule, do very
little work during the winter. and ac-
cOr,iingly hay. an opportunity TO re-
cuperatc their strength. Ordinarily
the perform only enough work 10 AZ
ford them suitable exercise. For these
reasons horses, though tender animals
generally. come through the winter IN
much better condition than cattle and
sheep.
Perhaps farmers in the Northern
States should not expect To have their
stock. cattle and sheep gain much dur
ing the long and severe winters that
are common here. They should en-
deayOr. however, 10 make them hold
their own They should not allow
them 10 run down on their hands. They
should be worth - much for II pur-
pose in the spring ~ they were IN ,he
preceding fall. They should be in the
best condition 10 gain in flesh when the
grass first start, III the pastures. They
should require no nursing during March
and April. They should be something
more than .'skin and bones when the
frost leaves the ground and vegetation
begins 10 show signs II life. They
should be well covered with flesh. sound,
vigorous and strong. Their bodies
should be free from insects that cause
constant annoyance and prepare the
way for disease. They should return
to the pas lures in As good condition ~
the birds that return from the distant
South. They should be in sufficiently
good condition Ia enjoy life and 10
profit by il. IL should not require a
month or six weeks time in "A good
pasture To enable them 10 recruit. They
should need no recruiting and require
no bringing up 10 a good healthy con-
dition.
The water supply for farm animals
during the winter is much poorer than
the food supply. The quality Of the
water Is often poor and the facilities FOR
obtaining il very bad. On MANY farms
animals are obliged To travel a long
distance. often through binding snow
storms. to reach 4 creek. stream or
pond where they can obtain water.
When they have reached the spot they
are obliged To qucnch their thirst with
impure water that is ice cold. Often
there Is no way of reaching the water
except To eat Il hole through the ice.
Around this hole the cattle stand wait
ing for chance tn drink. The strongest
take the first drink. while the weaker
and younger creatures wait till they
have become chilled. Some Of the lat
ter slip on the ice and Others are hooked
about. The feet and legs Of all the
animals become covered with snow and
water. which soon changes to ice. In
this condition they 90 back to the barn
or feeding yard. where they suffer from
cold for hours. During very cold
weather and on stormy days the ami
mails are very reluctant to 90 To the
watering-placc. They choose 20 endure
thirst rather than exposure. When
they do drink they take : q much water
into their stomach- that they are rem
dcred very uncomfortable.
In MANY barn-yarls in which there
are wells for supplying stock water the
arrangement OF the drinking trough- is
Very bad. They stand where the snow
piles bou them or where a body Of zee
forms. The older and stronger cattle
crowd and hook the younger and weak
er. Ice forms in the troughs and chills
the water that Is brought in to them.
On very cold or stormy days the cattle
are let ont to drink but once during
each twenty-four hours. They do not
drink sufficient water to enable them to
digest the dry food they eat and to
Keep in good condition. They often
become cons,ipated and lose their act
ivity. Water is As essential To the
healthy condition of animals As food is.
Men ald all the inferior animals need
to drink rs often as they eat dry food.
Water should be furnished abundantly
and often. and in places where it can:
be obtained without great exposure. Ii
is much better To have the watering
trough under a shed than in the opens
yard. Ii there are many animal, "a
different ages in the yard there should
be more than one trough. Pains shouldt
be- taken to keep drinking-troughs fred
from ice. This NAV be done by hayin4
4 plug in the bottom which can Il
drawn when the animals are through
drinking. A spout should be used q
carry off this wster 50 it will not forl6
ice in the yard. s.
Cattle should be brushed or carde&
during the winter rs horses are. Al
accumulation Of dirt in the hair affect
the skin unfavorably. and makes Il
animals feel uncomfortable. a clo&
examination Of every animal for Il
should be made n the beginning
winter and repeated every few weeH
II any are found substances should
applied that will DESTROY them. e
on cattle 4 generally be killed BY d
application Of some neutral oil.
paraffine or hogs lard; the addition
y small amount If csrbolic acid
make the remedy more effective.
animal will thrive .ha. Il. .o-ma,.a3