Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1889-02-15
FARM AND HOUSEHOLD.
WINTER CARE OF CATTLE.

WlNlEh OhnG VI VHt
Incorporated IN the last annual
report from the Indiana state board
of agriculture is an address on
"Wlnter Feeding and Care OF
Cattle" delivered by lsham Sed'
wick, of Wayne county, before the
Shorthorn Breeders association
Following are extracts from the
same likely to interest readers in
general;
First OF all, then, shelter from
rain and snow and then shelter
from the cold winds, but let your
shelters have that other great
requisite, good ventilation, and
also that still greater one, let 1t be
clean. Great draughts through
your barns are not necessary to
ventilation, but comparatively
small ones will do If rightly
arranged. This one hint is sufficient
in this matter. Provide openings
on all sides of the barn near the
floors of the stable, but in cold
weather leave only those on the
opposite side of the wind OPEN
Then another common fault is the
full sweep of the wind under the
floors. Perhaps these faulty con
structed buildings are the reason
that the strawstack, with its warm
side and bed, is such great
favorite with so many OF our
breeders, and allow me TO say
that a good sheltering stack Is a
good thing and thing that is not
easily excelled.
Next to shelter IN maintaining
the temperature and the source OF
heat is good feed.
There has been a great deal
written about the ration that Is
the most effective, aud yet we are
not at all convinced that there is
only one way to grow and fatten
the beef. Through the most OF our
state corn always has been the
best winter feed available. We
could hardly get along without It,
Yet great as it Is it needs TO be
supplemented with other things
Sometimes its comparative market
value renders it necessary that we
use as little corn as possible, lest
the product be worth less than the
corn.
The various feed cutters have
often proved OF great value where
the stables and troughs are all In
good shape, and yet there are
seasons when the ground is frozen
and dry and the fodder is of such
good quality that there is no loss
in feeding the stalks whole on the
ground aud there is saving of
labor that may be better employed.
/ am inclined to think that there
is one crop that is too much
neglected IN this country, and one
that is very valuable as a winter
feed. Beets or mangels can be
raised in great abundance and at a
low cost. With our best lands and
in all seasons it is possible to raise
ten bushels of beets to the same
ground space that will produce one
of corn. The cost Of raising is
only about three times that OF
corn per acre, and the feeding
value of ar acre of beets as a sup
Elemental feed to corn is equal to
five or more acres of corn. The
Juicy, lively condition of the cattle
on grass in summer may be main
tanned all winter by a mixed ration
of gram, fodder and beets, and
this condition maintained IN the
winter is of more value than will ap-
pear at first thought. The most of
US are too prone to put off the day
of beginning the winter feeding
Sorghum is one of the best of fall
forage crops it sends cattle INTO
the winter in tiptop condition 10y
supplying them with a ration that
has a large fat producing power.
Keep both stables and animals
clean and supply water that is as
nearly of the same temperature in
the winter as in the summer as it
is possible to have it. In word,
shelter your animals from storms
of wind and rain, keep them clean
and dry, provide pure water with
ont ice in it at least twice per day,
give as great a variety of food as
you can and if possible let some of
the feed be crisp and juicy as the
summer feed. Last of all, see that
your cattle have enough feed to
maintain their condition, and as
much more as they can use IN
making flesh, milk or growth.
A Cow With Cough.