Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1886-08-27
Warm Water for Mich Cows.

fhe report for 1885 of the Professor of
Agriculture at the Kansas Agricultural
College, details some interesting expert
ments conducted at the college to deter
mine the advantage CT warm water for
mich cows. From February to %
four cows were 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 in.
d eating the effect of the change. Every
day but one through the entire period
cove.Cd by the experiment the warm
water showed an increase in the flow of
milk equal to 8.47 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
decreasing the effect of the warm drink,
and the O. on the days the CO d water
WIS given may have been somewhat ac-
ccl1rated from the warm drink the day
before, so that really the difference
shold be much greater than the figures
indicate. The weather during the time
the experiment was made was not severe,
and it will be observed that the cod
water was freshly drawn well water,
which must be sever degrees warmer
than that which cattle get from the
streams and ponds. Under ordinary
winter conditions the advantage, it is
fair to suppose, would be much greater
than here indicated. One bu>hel of btu
minous coal consumed in an economical
k,N fnr
five cows. Bat Pr, fessor Shelton sug-
gcsts that there is abundant woody fiber
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
o tside the animsl by the combustion of
this waste material than to burn up go2d
feed inside the an.mal for the same pur-
pose. Referring to the general advant-
ages of warming the water the report
says:
That the loss to stock, owners from the
use of water in freezing condition in
cold weather is very great is stronly sug-
gested by the ordinary winter experiences
of the barnyard. The picture of the
herd of shivering cattle standing over
the trough or partly frozen stream by the
half hour, dreading the shock that the
freezing water gives to the system, and
after drinking, shivcring 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 greed ly IN full
draughts, afterward Stretching" them
selves W tn evident comfort and satisfac-
ton. Even the young sucking calves,
which ordinarily took cold water with
great rell cance if at all, rapidly acquired
ttste for the warm drink, slipping it
slyly at first, but sool taking it in full
draughts.
And in addition to the reasons ad-
vanced in the report, it may be observed
that very many cattle will not drink in
severe weather sufficient water to main
tain condition of sound heath From
the nature f their food and digestive
system they require good deal of wa err,
and 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 ill-health is not
reached. 1t is much more important
matter, we are satisfied, tnan most farm
ers suppose. --BreederS' Gazette.