Cheyenne transporter. [volume] (Darlington, Indian Terr.) 1879-1886, 1886-03-15

storms to reach creek, stream,
or pond where they can obtain water.
When they have reached the spot they
are obliged to guench their thirst with
impure water that is ice cold. Often
there rs no way of reaching the water
except to cut hole through the ice.
Around this hole the cattle stand wait
ing for chance to drink. The strong
est take the first drink, while tho
weaker and younger creatures wait till
they have become chilled. Some of
the latter 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
change to ice. In this condition thew
go back TO the barn or feeding yard,
where they suffer from cold for hours.
During very cold weather and OH
stormy days the animals are very re.
luctant to go to the watering place.
They choose to endure thirst rather
than exposure. When they do drink
they take SO much water into their
stomachs that they are rendered very
uncomfortable.
In many barn-yards in which there
are wells for supplying stockwater
the arrangement of the drinking
troughs is very bad. They stand
whore the snow piles about them or
where body of ice forms. The older
and stronger cattle crowd and hook
the younger and weaker. Ice forms
in the troughs and chills tho water
that is brought in to them. On very
cold or stormy days the cattle are let
out to drink but once during each
twenty-four hours. They do not drink
sufficient water to enable them to di-
gest the dry food they eat and to keep
in good condition. They often be-
come constipated and lose their activi-
ty. Water is as essential to the healthy
condition of animals as food is. Men
and all the inferior animals need to
drink as often as they eat dry food.
Water should be furnished abundant
ly and often, and in places where it
can be obtained without great expo
sure. 1t is much better to have the
watering trough under shed than in
the open yard. If there are many
animals of different ages in the yard
there should be more than one trough.
Pains should be taken to keep the
bringing troughs from ice. This may
be done by having plug in the bot
tom which can be drawn when the ami
mails are through drinking. A spout
should be used to carry off this water
so it will not form ice in the yard.
Cattle should be brushed or carded
during the winter as horses are. An
accumulation of dirt in the hair affects
the skin unfavorably, and makes the
animals feel uncomfortable. A close
examination of every animal for lice
should be made at tho beginning of
winter and repeated every few weeks.
Ii any are found substances should be
applied that will destroy them. Lice
on cattle can generally be killed by
the application of some neutral OIL as
paraffine or hogs lard; the addition
OF small amount of carbolic acid will
make the remedy more effective. No
animal will thrive if tormented by ver-
min, which produces perpetual an
noyance. In portions of the country
that are newly settled and where the
farmers are poor all animals can not
be kept in well-constructed barns and
stables. Still it is practicable to pro-
vide protection against winds and
storms. A frame can be made of rails
or saplings, about which corn-stalks
and straw can be piled. A tight roof
can be made of thatch. The construc-
ton of roofs of thatch IS an art that
has been sadly neglected in this coun-
try, and should receive attention in
all parts of the west. Some of our
forelgn-born farmers practiced making
roofs OF thatch in their old homes, and
they could be of great service to their
neighbors in teaching them the art