Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1888-02-10
FRIDAY FEBRUARY TO-


At the Kansas Agricultural college. last
winter. Prof Shelton took four cows. two
Shoithorns and two Jerseys, all considera-
bly, past the period Of full milking, and
gave them warm water 10 drink on alter
nate days in order to test its influence on
milk production as compared with water at
the ordinary temperature Of wells. The
experiment was continued 20 days the
milk credited 10 the warm water being, in
every case, the total milk yielded at the
evening and morning milkings following
the use Of that particular drink. The av-
erage increase attributable to the warm wa
ter was found to equal about one twelfth of
the usual cold water yield that is, suppos.
posing a COW gave - quarts per day when
drinking cold water, she would give l3
quarts when supplied with warm water.
In his report Prof Shelton says
while this experiment, from its brevity
and the peculiar circumstances surround
ing it, is far from conclusive upon the
point under examination, it certainly is
suggestive Of great value. The fact that
every day except one when warm water
was the drink of the cows, a marked in
crease of the flow of milk was recorded
this increase amounting to II and even IL
per cent-shows conclusively, as it seems
to me, that the warm water was always
beneficial. | am confident, however, that
this beneficial influence is shown here at
the minimum for the reason before stated
that the influence of the warm and of
the cold drink extends beyond the two
milkings following
That the loss to stock owners from the
use cf water in freezing condition in cold
weather, is very great is strongly suggest
ed 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
standing shivering and shaking as if in an
ague is familiar one to every northern
stock raiser. In striking contrast to this
was the behavior Of our cows after they
had learned the taste of warm water they
drank it gladly in full draughts, afterward
stretching themselves with evident com
fort and satisfaction. Even the young
sucking calves. which ordinarily took cold
water with great reluctance, if at all. rap
idly acquired a taste for the warm drink
slipping it slyly at first, but soon taking it
in full draughts "
The professor suggests that such woody
fibre as cornstalks, cobs, straw, etc, usu-
ally wasted in the West, might be made to
contribute to the heat of the animal econo-
my by being used as fuel to warm water
for drink. While the suggestion may be
Of no direct value to Eastern farmers. there
is no doubt that coal, at least may be so
employed with profit in this section. From
some experiments made on small scale
some years ago, we are convinced that milk
and butter production may be increased
one-fourth, or % per cent in winter, by
the use of warm water In our expert
ments the temperature of the water was
raised nearly to blood heat
To recur once more to Prof Shelton's eX
pertinent, we quote his concluding remarks
/ Il am unable to think of one of the leaks
of the farm that may be so easily and with
such profitable results stopped as this waste
/ of animal heat. The general proposition
that warm, comfortable quarters-not mere
supplemented with warm food and
drink, are advantageous to the homestead
ed animals is rarely questioned 90 a
/ step further and assert that the heat and
comfort of animals may be conserved, in
the way indicated, to the great financia
advantage of their owners. Empire stat,
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