Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1905-01-10
Winter Care of the Dairy Cow,

Unfortunately, or otherwise, we are
located in a latitude where much winter
is found, and much thought and labor
must be devoted to providing for winter
conditions.
We may say, in passing, that events in
stock breeding, and results obtained,
appear to warrant the belief that vigor-
Gus climate fosters rather than impedes
progress in stock raising. We will, then,
take our conditions as We find them, and
try to study the problems connected
with our work, that we may obtain re-
suits that shall be satisfactory.
The dairy COW that is making money
for her owner to-day is an artificial pro-
ductiou, and her natural instincts and
functions have been useful only as a
foundation on which to build the struc-
ture of her usefulness. Naturally, she
gives milk only sufficient to sustain the
life of her young until it is able to secure
its food from other sources. The milk
flow then ceases, and nature goes to
work again TO turn her energies into
another channel. Artificially, she keeps
on giving milk long after her young is
provided with food elsewhere. This is
her part of the work in the great dairy
world. So far has this unnatural strain
upon her system been carried that in far
too many cases she has been allowed to
continue her milk-giving without inter-
ruption, and at the same time to nourish
and bring forth her offspring. Feeders
who have been doing this, have felt that
she was not doing her full duty when
they have noted the diminishing size OF
the calves of successive generations, or
when disease, as natural sequence OF
this drain upon her system. finds lodg-
ment, and her usefulness is past.
However, the dairy COW is kept for
what work she can do, and is useful to
her owner only as she affords him profit.
IL is therefore we'll to understand her
requirements, and to be prepared to rem
der unto her everything by way Of sur
roundings, food and treatment, that
shall place her in her best estate for pro-
ductiOn. BY this is meant the condition
of being able to produce to her maxi
mum, and still be maintained in robust,
healthy condition, 80 that as generations
of her offspring appear, they shall Do
better and stronger than she.
The natural COW furnished milk for
her offspring only in summer; the arti-
fetal COW, furnishing milk at all seasons
of the year, should be placed, as near as
possible in the summer conditions.
What are they? Briefly answered, they
are warmth, light, good air, comfortable
quarters, and an abundance OF succulent
| food. The nearer We can come to this,
in our treatment of the dairy cow In
| winter, the more We encourage the func'
ton of milk giving. and the greater the
profit. Our winter quarters need mol
be expensive, but must be frost proof for
best results. / like the arrangement o,
double tie-up with heads facing cen
trail feeding floor. This enables US t.
close the room sufficiently to avoid frost
without closing shutters Immediately In
the cows faces. 1t is convenient fol
feeding, and affords good air space fol
the cows. Our tie-ups are each fifteer
feet wide, with feeding floor betwesI
them six feet wide. Three doors cios'
the room tit is really one rOom) from TIT
main barn. have often commented ol
the purity of the air, when entering
these tie-ups after they have been clos
ed for the night. Windows on boil
sides and one end give plenty Ut light
In fact, it is as light as our sitting room
The cows are watered by simply untyini
them and allowing them to step to IN
trough behind them. The water !
slightly warmed in the very severes
weather. By the use Of the modifie'
Hoard stall the cows are kept c!eal
without discomfort. These condition
give us the warmth, light, good air an
comfortable, cleanly quarters.
Now for the other requisites.
variety of foods is secured BY CROWN
, our hay on land but one or two year
from the plow, by studying the appetit
of each animal, and varying her feedin
. to suit that appetite, and by the use o
: the silo. The silo gives US succulenct
aids in securing larger quantity OF foot
and helps create an appetite Tor iea