Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1896-11-03
WINTER CARE OF DAIRY STOCK.
SUNSHINE AND PURE AIR ARE ESSEN
TIAL. WARM DRINKING WATER
VALUE OF THoRoUGHBREDs.

During the coming month the prep
arations for winter should be com
pleted.
To secu the best results from dsir,
stock the stable should be made as nesl
sir-tight as possible. Then provide
ventilation to furnish the necessary pur'
air so as 10 avoid drafts; with every
shiver there disappears a quantity OF
food from the barn as we'll as some o
the milk from the cows. An anima
cannot use all its food in keeping warn
and at the same time make milk. Mill
Is made from the surplus food after the
bodily wants Of the animal are supplied
The value of sunshine Is not appre'
lated. II possible have stalls on the
south side OF the barn. Then put In the
windows close together. Every spring
and fall whitewssh the walls, ceiling
and managers, adding few grains OF
chloride of mercury, AS disintectant u
kill the tuberculosis germs.
The water furnished stock should be
pure. Don't oblige stock 10 go out IN
the cold months 10 drink. Cattle will
do better kept In the barn from Novem-
Der 30th TO April lst, than If obliged Ia
spend two hours out doors each day
On bright, pleasant days an hours exer-
else will do them good, but on cold,
stormy days this time out doors VIII
prove detrimental. IL pays TO warm
water for stock. In my opinion IL would
pay any farmer keeping twenty cows 10
buy q boiler, and while he Is about II he
might as well buv an engine too.
Get thoroughbred bull in the fifth
generation when YOU will have COWS
thirty-one thirty-scconds pure blood.
These cows for all practical purposes
are as good AS the thoroughbreds. III
pays to raise good stock. We can raise
IL as cheap as We can buy II, besides
COWS that are raised and kept on the
same farm are better coutented, and
generally do better than those bought.
| commence 10 pet and handle calves
when they are few weeks old and when
one year old they are ss quiet aud as
orderly as any COW. ileifers should
commence 10 give milk when from
twenty-four TO thirty months old. IL
they have been handled right you Will
have but little trouble with them. still,
patience aud self-control are sometimes
necessary. The worst thing that can
be done to COW il To strike or yell nj
her until she Is badly scared.
Cows should be fed regularly and AT
stated intervals and not every time you
go 10 the barn. They soon get accus-
toned 10 either method. II the first is
pursued they will lie and chew their cud
until feeding time comes; II the other
they will get up every time you go TO
the barn. Cows should be fed twice q
day, this gives them from A. NJ. to !
Z. NJ 10 rest and enjoy themselves.
When cows come 10 the barn In the fall
then should be given the best of hay.
As the days begin 10 lengthen II Will do
20 increase the amount OF rough fodder.
Don't be deceived in regard TO the
value OF ensilage, Il Is nothing more nor
less than corn fodder well preserved.
To properly use eusilage it must be as
an article OF partial diet. 1t furnishes
succulent food az season when nothing
else can be had. Fed In connection with
hay and grain, and in small quantities,
il not only promotes the flow OF milk,
but increases the appetite, and adds
largely 70 the comfort and thrift of the
animal.
In feeding hay always feed small
quantitv at time. When this Is eaten
feed again. Cows like Il change Of food
as well As men. IL is good practice 10
put small handful OF salt in the grain.
&c. A. X, in New England Farmer.