The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1885-11-18
Care of Young Stock in Winter.

Philadelphia Record.
Young animals at this season are very sus-
ceptible to cold and dampness, and any
check through failure 10 supplya sufficiency
of food at regular periods, or exposure to wet
and cold. may produce injurious results
Young colts at this season should be allowed
to remain with their dams as long as they
will suckle as but little work is required of
the breeding-mares during the winter, and if
the mares give large quantities of milk the
colts will grow rapidly. Where the young
stock is dependent upon the dams the food
must be OF kind that produces milk rich in
all the elements necessary for structural
growth. Ground oats twice a day, with a
plentiful supply of hay. will afford an
abundant amount of nourishment in the
shape Of milk, and on cold days an allow
anee of corn meal may be given with adj
vantage.
Young calves are often deprived of the
milk that naturally should go to them. ow-
ing to its value for market, substitutes De-
ing given with the skim milk usually
allowed. Unless judgment is exercised in
feeding the calves scours will result, from
the effects of which the calves do not re-
cover until they have been seriously injured
in growth. Young pigs that have been sud
denly weaned, and especially if taken from
the cows too soon, are often stunned" in
such manner as to debar them from becom-
ing large heavy hogs at any time. It is i'm.
that when the young stock IS weakened
through mistakes in feeding the cold weather
often comes upon them at a time when they
are physically unable to endure it.
1t is best not to wean the young stock too
soon, but il il becomes necessary 10 do 30.
the feeding should be done often, and. If
possible, the food should be warm. The
younger an animal the more rapid its growth
and the more frequent its times of feeding;
hence, when they are allowed only three
meals a day, the same as the adults, they
do not thrive as well as they do when fed
oftner and in smaller quantities. Dieting
the animals is necessary in winter, in order
to avoid costiveness of the bowels, as well as
Indigestion, and therefore the adults and
young stock should receive succulent food
such as eRsilage or roots but in the case of
the young stock roots without ensilage may
be feed cooked If the old enough to eat
well. The dieting of young stock by feeding
q variety of food as they are gradually
weaned will save them much sickness as
they are easily affected by sudden changes.
During the winter months much time
may be saved by keeping the young stock in
good condition, they Will start of in the
spring with an advantage which will more
than compensate for whatever extra care
may be given. As the winter is not over
when the early lambs dropped. place
must be provided in advance or the ewes.
70 have the lambs dropped in the fields,
with the temperature below freezing, Is very
severe on them, and those that do not perish
seldom recover entirely. Give the lambs a
warm dry place the first few days of their
existence and one-half the trouble with
them will be over. Young pigs are very
tender and IL farrowed in midwinter sell
dom prove satisfactory afterward unless an
attendant gives them close attention for the
first week, as they easily become so chilled
as to be unable 10 derive nourishment, and
as there are usually few strong pigs in
every litter the weaker ones are crowded
back becoming subject to the severity OF
the cold on account of an insufficient sup
ply Of nourishment, and as all young ami.
mails are subject to competition when to-
gether they should never De crowded at any
time