The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1915-11-13
WINTER CARE OF STOCK.
Profitable Wintering of Farm Ami
mails Depends Largely upon Eco
nOmical Feeding.

iem 1t is time to consider what
feed can most profltably be used.
Grains will be high and should be fed
judiciously. The bulk of the feed
used for wintering stock should be
made up of roughages from the farm.
Small amounts Of concentrates, fed
daily with these feeds, make COM
paratively cheap rations entirely suit
able to certain classes of live stock.
For convenience in planning winter
feeding, farm animals may be divid-
ed into three classes:
1. Mature animals not producing
an income during winter months.
2. Animals producing an income
during the winter.
3. Young and growing stock to be
retained on the farm the following
summer.
In Class 1 may be included all ma
ture live stock held on the farm, eth
er for breeding purposes, future work,
summer. ''.. ... ....
In Class 2 may be included. work
horses. COWS producing milk, and
stock being fattened for market or
conditioned for sale during the winter
months.
In Class may be included all
young and growing stock on the farm.
The big saving in the winter feed
bill can be made with Glass /. This
does not mean that animals of this
class should be permitted to come
through the winter in a rundown and
weakened condition. Rather than
consider such practice, it. would be
far better to sell the stock in the fall.
1T is meant. however, that they can
and should be maintained on the
cheaper feeds. Roushages, supple
mented by small amount of concen-
trates Coil meal or grain) are in favor
for them. Give the horses, cattle, and
sheep access to cut-over grain fields
and straw stacks, meadows, wooded
lots, and pastures. Horses and sheep
may have access to husked-out corn
fields. In certain sections where
losses of cattle have been experienced
In the past from the so-called corn
stalk disease farmers should consider
this fact before turning cattle into
such cornfields. AS the winter ad-
vances open the. bars to shelters, feed
racks, and grain trcuphs.
Corn siiago will be invaluable at
this Spe, especially for cattle and
sheep. Keep the feed racks filled
with corn stoyer nay, and straw, but
90 not be wasueful in the feeding.
The amount Of grain to put in the
trough can not definitely be given. The
same should vary in accordance with
severeness of winter and condition of
stock. This is a point that can only
be decided in the feed lot. To per-
NIT the stock to go entirely without
concentrates at this time would be a
grave mistake. and In all probability
make impossible the task Of bringing
it to spring feed in a healthy and Wig
orOus condition. Such a condition is
imperative in the case of breeding
animals and essential for feeders if
best results are to be obtained.
The matter Of feeding hogs, includ-
ed in Class 1, presents an entirely diff
ferent problem from that Of the 9TH
er stock. 1t is true that they may
profitably be run on grain fields,
meadows, and pastures before snow
arrives, but concentrates must consti-
tute much of, their ration after outside
fields are closed for winter. Roots,
chopped alfalfa hay, apples, and
waste products Of the dairy and house
hold do much toward keeping down
the cost Of their winter feed. In fact,
any products that will substitute for
the forages and grasses in the field,
which feeds are so essential to the
conditioning Of brood sows, can we'll
be used.
Concerning the feed for stock in
cluded in Glass 2 little need be said.
1t Is fact well known that horses at
work require both care and feed
This they must receive if their work
Is done. To furnish the, dairy COW
with rations not intended to meet the
demands made upon her system by
the milk she gives would defeat the
purpose for which she is kept. Equal
~ certain would the st:nting Of the
ration Of fattening steers or hogs fail
to make them ready for the Christ
mas market. AS the food require
ments for these different classes of
live stock is a matter of common
knowledge to StOckmen, it remains