Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1886-12-17
Sarn Copies.
WARM WATER FOR MlLCH COWS.

WARM WATER FOR MlLCH COWS.
The report for 1855 of the professor of
agriculture at the Kansas Agricultural
+ college. details some interesting expert
ments conducted at the college to deter
mine the advantage of warm water for
milch cows. From February to - four
cows We're given on alternate days water
from the well and water heated to 100
degrees Fahrenheit, and the milk the
evenings and mornings following each
alienation in the water accepted as indi
eating the effect of the change. Every
day but one through the entire period
covered by the experiment in the warm
water showed an increase in the flow of
milk equal to 81 per cent in the aggre-
gate; and it is believed that this does not
represent the whole advantage, as the
substitution of cold water every other
day likely exercised some influence in de-
creaSing the effect of the warm drink,and
the flow on the days the cold water was
given may have been somewhat acceler-
ated from the warm drink the day before,
so that really the difference should be
much greater than the figures indicate.
The weather during the time the expert
ment was made was not severe, and it
will be observed that the 'cold water"
was freShly-drawn we'll water, which
must be several degrees warmer than that
which cattle can get from the streams
and ponds. Under ordinary conditions
the advantage, it is fair to suppose,
would be much greater than here indicat-
ed. One bushel of bituminous coal con-
Sumed in an economical boiler will warm
the water for % cows. But Professor
Shelton suggests that there is abundant
woody fibre on every farm in the shape
of over-ripe and spoiled fodder-straw,
cornStalks. and cobs-to say nothing of
recognized wood materials. which can be
utilized for the purpose. And it would
seem better economy in providing water
in cold weather to raise it to blood heat
outside the animal by combustion of this
waste material than to burn up good feed
inside the animal for the same purpose.
Referring to the general advantages of
warming the water the report says:
That the loss to stock owners from the
use of water in "A freezing condition in
cold weather is very great is strongly
suggested by the ordinary winter expert
ences of the barnyard. The picture of
the herd of shivering cattle standing over
the trough or partly frozen stream by the
half hour. dreadin9 the shock that the
freezing water gives to the system, and,
after drinking, Shvering and shaking as
if in an ague, is familiar one to every
northern stock raiser. In striking CON
trast to this was the behavior of our cows
after they had learned the taste of warm
water; they drank it greedily in full
draughts, afterward stretching" them
selves with evident comfort and satisfac-
ltion. Even the young sucking calves,
which ordinarily took cold water with
great reluctance if at all, rapidly acquired
taste for the warm drink, slipping it
slyly at first, but soon taking it in full
draughts.
And in addition to the reasons advanced
in The report, it may be observed that
very many cattle will not drink in very
severe weather sufficient water to main
tain condition of sound health. From
the nature of their food and digestive
~ TEN they require good deal of water,
aud if they do not take it the organs be-
come more or less impacted and perform
their functions imperfectly, and there is
lack of thrift and Improvement appar-
ent even if a condition of i'll health is not
reached. 1t is much more important
matter, we are satisfied, than most farm
ar. suppose Breeders Gazette.