Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1893-01-03
WINTER CARE OF i've STOCK.

III any Of the farm stock are Iittl'
thin during the winter, they should ne
reiye extra attention aud food. IL sheep
separate those In poor flesh, or the oil,
ones from the young, and feed accom-
lug To their condition, for even III th-r,
l. plenty Of rack ami trough room, the
strong will crowd away the weak, an,
obtain the lions share. IL each IL ml'
lowed to take only the food actual,
needed, the results will be different. II
does not look we'll To see a flock Of sheet
In which some are SO feeble as To b.
hardly able To rise alone. while Others
are plump and strong. Neither does IL
Indicate good management for a farmer
to sell each year. during the spring, n
half dozen or more sheep pelts, taken
from animals that died from neglect. II
Il worse than neglect to take the sheep
from the pasture In the fall la good con
,lition and I'm four or i've mouths allow
them to gradually fall away la flesh aud
,lie. with old sheep that are allowed
to become thin, IL will require good man
segment To brins them through alive,
especially II they are To false lambs,
Those In this condition should have n
little ground feed four or five times y
lay, ami he SD Isolated that Others will
not crowd or worry them. Give bright
clover hay, pure water, an occasional
,pple or potsto, aud they will soon be la
goo condition.
The cattle should have warm quarters
at night, and spring calves should not
he alloaed with the older stock. Sonl-
COWS that are very geutle and kind IL
the summer season, are very tyrannicil
In the winter season. III there are n'
accommodations To- keep such ones i.olat-
ed, they should certainly be dehorne,i,
or at least have the tips Of their horn.
pro, ,il-d with knobs. In fsct all cattlr
that are confined should either be de-
horned, ar have their horns thus pro-
tecte,i. The knobs prevent Injury from
hooking, improve their appe ,rance, an'i
c,,st but few cents. 10 you do not de-
this, rrmoye the tip ent of the horn
with fine saw, rounding up with n
sharp knife, but knobs should be attach
ell IL possible. II the cattle are obliged
tn 20 To creek or pond for water, the
approach should he carefully shovelc'l
out, aud II he covers the surface u
.h"uld he rough-ned 80 that the cattle
will not slip. This can he done In n
cold day by throwing on snow, and
,iashlng water on IL, or cut In the sur
face with AN axe, as much stock IL seri-
ously injured each winter by slipping and
.training while drinking. When cattle
are protected by an open shed, there u
occssionslly one animal s0 illy-disposed,
that all the rrst are driven out from the
shelter, aud the others dare enter only
when the bass l. lying down. Either
ronfine su,h one separately, or fit for
IN ,rkrt at th. first opportunity. Nil
up small box somewhere un'l-r shelt.'
in which To keep salt at all times. This
I. better than simply sailing them at od'i
times.
Nv ronfining the cattle In stsnchions
Turing the night aud allowing th-m To
run at l,rg- during the day In pleasant
Arathrr, a full grown COW or steer c,h
he kept In b.tter condition on half a Ton
Iess ot hs,, than by the old out of door
rough and tumble plan. OF course thu
m,kesa little more work, hut the ma
nure, 10 piled up under shelter or drawn
tn the field during the winter, will well
IaN IOf tUt tNtFa INV, u'suf-s u'>
isrm, ~ have leisure time during thu
winter season, aud may thus turn it Into
money.
10 posslble never allow colts AMI
horses tn run loose with cattle. Colts.
II they are kept In good condition, will
c-rtainly have their play spells and rae
the cattle about at fearful rate. Unless
cattle are dehorned. when penned M,
they " IN use their horns In a disastrou.
manner, and especially seem to have y
yrudge against horses and Will, u possi-
tile, injure th-m at the frat opportunity.
Colts should be- halter broken, lei about
aud tied up duriug the day; treat them
kindly so they ~ill come to YOU at the
ell. This is easily taught them by CIV
Ing little sugar, corn, or other food.
" hen they spprosch YOU. Use the cur
~ romb freely on both colts and horses.
~heth-r they are st work or not. IL
keeps the skin In good healthy condi'
ti.n, and gives the stock ne,t. trlm APP
prarance.-American Agriculturist.