Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1886-01-14


happens In sudden and violent changes
to cold, that the exposed animal, by all
the food they could consume, could not
keep the necessary heat, and heavy
drafts are made on the supply of fat laid
up IA the animal, and it is burnt up, as
it we're, for the purpose. as oil is taken
up and burnt in the lamp. How impor-
tant then that the animal be kept warm
both as to a saving of food and as to
the condition in regard to the fat already
stored up. The subject even of supply>
ing artificial heat to stables is beginning
to attract attention in many places.
Edward Hammond, of Middlebury,
Vt, has a large stove in his sheep stable,
and by means of an open hallway dis
tributes the heat through the entire sta
BILE, and claims it saves him in feed alone
100 per cent. of the cost. Cows kept for
dairy purposes would be even more ben
Gifted than sheep. The object for which
they are kept is one much more sensitive
to changes than perhaps any other for
which stock is kept and the results are
more apparent. Who is so thoughtless
or poor as to be unwilling to provide
some kind of warm shelter for the COW !?
Yet the folly in not supplying to all
kinds of stock the same warm protec-
tion, is the same in kind, if the evils are
net in apparent degree.
Again, what kind Of a stock owner
would be be, who could enjoy his warm
room and bed, when he knew his stock
was out exposed to the driving sleet and
storm, no dry place to lay its cold, shiv-
ering body. A man so Indifferent to the
comfort of his stock, as to feel no sense
of unhappiDess in such case, can never
be very successful stockman.
The right construction of the stable or
shed is also very important. They should
be dry, they should be well ventilated;
there should be no draft of air rushing
through them. They should open to the
southeast or least exposed side. Ia short,
they should contribute to the entire COM
fort of the animal. Surely, then, ali stock
should have dry, warm stable or shell
ter.
The next important consideration is
how to feed. Many may be ready to say,
anybody can do that, but we feel like
answering. no, everybody cannot do that.
We have already referred to the fact.
that owing to the great abundance of
fodder, we were often prodigal in its use.
This is unwise in waste of feed, and also
to the injury of the stock fed. You can
feed a flock of sheep too much hay
more than Ia for the thrift Of the flock.
Physicians tell US that the stomach must
have seasons of positive rest. in order to
do its best work. If it Is your wish to
have the stock eat the greatest amount
possible, you will succeed better by givsI
ing no more than they will eat up clean.
and should even experience feeling of
hunger between feeds. Feeding an
amount in excess of what is required,
the fiocks become fastidious and saucy
about their feed. will pull it out and
tramp it under foot, and as a rule, can
not be made to thrive while indulging
such a habit Feeding a horse all the
hay be will eat, is injurious to his wind
when put to work in such condition, and
leads to diseases, such as eribbing.
heaves, &c. A dairy COW, kept as she is
for the purpose of manufacturing feed
into milk, has an extra tax on the assim-
ilating powers of her digestive organs,
and to meet this, has the power of re-
mastication; yet we have numerous in
stances of the evil of over feeding, in the
premature death of our famous mixers.
How much to feed then is ever an i'm
port&nt question, and life time may be
spent in learning on this point. Our
rule then is, feed no more than is eaten
up clean.
Again, feeding should be regular; let
it be once, or twice, or three times a day,
it should always be at regular intervals.
In no other way can you arrive at the
amount the stock will eat; nor promote
the regular habit of eating and resting
that is necessary to good digestion and
consequent thrift. Nor of that content
ment and willing waiting for the com>
ing feed that is the natural result of
prompt feeding at stated times. Our
experience is that in winter, feeding
should be daily, but it does not matter
much with sheep or cattle whether it is |
once or twice day, only that it be reg
ular. Cows, of course, twice day, be-
cause MIXED twice, and horses twice OF
three times the yearly habit may be.
It's not good religion to lie in bed longer |
Sabbath mornings than others, and keep |
stock hungry and waiting for their feed |
to ans unusual hour-neither is it good |
for the stock.
Feed regularly as to time, also enough |
to meet the necessary requirement of the
animal, which may be more at one time
than at another, and varies chlef1y IN |
proportion to the severity of the wealth
er, more on a cold than on warm day. !
The kind of feed is also an important
question; but we will not discuss that
point here. The amount of grain to be
fed for the highest profit, as also the
kind of grain fed. We would recommend
that all animals be fed a little grain req.
ulsrly through the winter, and corn, ow-
ing to tho fact that it contains more car
bon or heat producing elements than
any other grain Except perhaps buck
wheat.) it is peculiarly adapted to brac-
ing up and defending the system against
the effects Of cold and chsngsable wealth.
er; and also, 1t is the experience of stock
feeders generally, that grain fed in wins