Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1886-06-19
SUMMER CARE OF STOCK.


time, at the beginning OF the summer,
to call attention, as we have some.
times done before, to the absolute
necessity of furnishing pure water to
the stock. 1t need not be said that
many animals never see a drop of
pure water from the beginning to the
end Of the summer. There may be
III the pasture stagnant pond which
supplies all the water that the
COW or other animal in pasture ever
gets. There are some thoughtful
stockmen who object even to run
ming streams as water supply, and
there are serious objections to them.
There is little doubt that diseases
are often spread through such
means; but, perhaps, the dangers
and objections do not outweigh the
benefits. But it is both reckless and
cruel to compel our animals to drink
stagnant and polluted water. They
cannot do it with impunity. I'm.
pure water does an incalculable
amount of harm in this world-mueh
greater harm than is imagined. The
water in many of our cities is a yer.
liable death messenger, and hun.
dreds, especially children, die an.
nually from drinking bad water, and
the truth is that u great many child.
rem die who are poisoned by milk
which comes from cows that are all
the time drinking impure water. SO
far as mich COWS are concerned, the
results of their drinking impure wa.
ter could not well be worse. The
health is affected in the first place.
If it is not, it is marvellous; and if it
is, the milk must be affected. In
the next place, the bad water has a
direct influence upon the milk.
Another matter to which we have
often called attention, and concern
ing which we have had some contro
versy in the past, is the necessity of
furnishing shade in the pasture,
when it is possible to do so. 1t is
not only cruel to compel a COW to
roam or stand under blazing hot
sun all day, but it is not good pol
icy; it is not profitable, and good
common sense will sustain that as.
sertion. The directors to shade say
that the COW will become lazy and
cease to eat grass. Now, no one
who will provide the animal shade
will ever have any such reason for
complaint of her flow of milk. When.
ever there is any such reason for
complaint it will be time enough to
object to shade, though even the hu.
name feelings should be sufficient to
lead to providing shade. The COW
will do better with shade, as any
one will learn if he try it. Without
it she will not utilize the food she
consumes as completely as she will
with it. The blood of an unprotect-
ed COW is heated to q disastrously
high temperature. That in itself is
detrimental. But such condition
produces something that, to say the
least, verges close upon feverish
state, and that is disease. Further
than that, no COW that suffers dis.
comfort can do as well as one that
does not. Time and again has the
advice been given, keep the COW
quiet and make her comfortable. 1t
has been good advice. Dairymen
should try how best and most care.
fully to accomplish this purpose. The
COW is very excitable animal, and
unless she is made comfortable she
will not and cannot do her best. Do
not let the dogs and the boys chase
her; do not let the men scold her;
do not let anybody abuse her, and do
not permit dogs even to bark near,
are good advice that is often given
to the COW owner. Why IS such adj.
vice goodf Because such things
worry the animal and thus impair
her usefulness. But we pretend to
say that there is no cause for excite
ment and worriment that will sur.
pass the exposure OF the COW to the
hot sun for ten or eleven hours while
the thermometer is among the nine.
ties Western RarGl.