Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1888-03-23

At the Kansas Agricultural college. last
winter. Prof shelton took four cows, two
Shorthorns and two Jerseys. all considera-
blv past the period Of full milking, and
gave them warm water to 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 continued 20 days, the milk
credited TO 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 average in
crease attributable To the warm water was
found to equal about one-twelfth Of the
usual cold water yield that is, supposing
a COW gave 10 quarts per day when drink
ing cold water, she would give l3 quarts
when supplied with warm water In his
report Prof Shelton says
while this experiment, from its brew
" and the peculiar circumstances surround
ing it, is far from conclusive upon the
point under examination, il 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 20 II and even Is
per cent--shows conclusively, as it seems
to me- that the warm water was always
beneficial I 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
milkngs following
THAT the loss TO stock owners from the
use Of water in a 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, shvering and shaking as if in an
ague, is a 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 taste for the warm drink,
slipping it slyly at first, but soon taking it
in full draughts.
The professor suggests that such woody
fiber as cornstalks, cobs straw, etc, usual
ly 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 EN-.
ployed with profit in this section From
some experiments made on a small scale
some years ago, we are convinced that
milk and butter production may be increas-
ed ne-fourth, or % per cent, in winter, by
the use of warm water In our expert
ments the temperature of the water was
raised to nearly blood heat.
To refer 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
shelter-supplemented with warm food and
drink. are advantageous to the homestead
ed animals, is rarely questioned. | go a
step further, and assert that the heat and
comfort of animals may be conserved, in
the way indicated, to the great financial
advantage of their owners. Empire state
.lgricultiu'iSt.