Rensselaer Union, Volume 12, Number 4, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 9 October 1879 — Fall Care of Stock. [ARTICLE]

Fall Care of Stock.

We are now approaching a season of the year when stock of all kinds needs extra watchfulness and care on the Sart of the owner or keeper. The midle of the days are often intensely hot, and the nights as disagreeably cool and chilly. Tne human family begin to think of a fire in the sitting-room, and the members hover arountl it with an eagerness which tells not only how agreeable it is, but how necessary for comfort and health. This ought to remind the dairyman that all animal life begins to feel the chill of approaching winter; and if he will watch his stock he will see evidence of the fact in their elevated backs and shivering sides, and in the care with which they seek sheltered places at nightfall, and when cold rains beat upon them. They feel nervous, sensitive and irritable, and crave heat-producing food. These indications of nature ought to be heeded and acted upon, for not only is a merciful man merciful to his beast, but a sensible man sees economy and an addition to the contents of his pockets in the good care and oomfort of his animals. Every intelligent and thrifty dairyman will see that his cows are provided with a good shelter from the storms that prevail, at this season of the year, and cram the chill night air and frostswhich cut vegetable life to the quick, and penetrate even to the marrow of the animal creation. The sudden changes of temperature are felt even more than the steady cold of winter, and unless cows are properly sheltered the decrease in the flow of milk will be rapid and often sudden. This alternate heating and chilling tells on-the m«WI constitution, and snould be carefully guarded against if fall-made butter or cheese is any object. Cows should be kept comfortable and contented at all times, but they can be neither if exposed to all the blasts, and storms, and changes of temperature always experienced in the fall months. And not only shelter and warmth should be considered, hat an additional supply of food should be provided. Some dairymcp fad \\ ft paying iftyesV

ment to feed a little meal every day in toe year, just as some farmers find that it pava to give a few oats to horse* running fa the pasture. This extra feed keeps up toe strength and vitality, and by that much adds to the product of the cow at the pail, fa both quantity and quality. Bat at this season of the year there is extra, if not imperative, need of some food heartier than frostbitten grass, however plentiful It may be. It is an excellent practice to put cows in toe stable at night and give them well-cured oomstalks or grass, and a lick of meal or shorts wifi not only be relished, bat “stick to the ribs,** and make toe cow feel comfortable and strong to do her day's foraging in the field. Does any one doubt that this will add to her usefulness? It will not only pay the current cost of the extra investment, but tell on the lessened cost of the winter’s keep, and show in the better condition of the cow next spring; for no animal that goes into the stable poor in the beginning of winter is likely to come out fat in toe spring on the ordinary fare of the cow; but if she begins in good condition it will not be difficult to make her “ hold her own.” Good fall care and feed, with generous winter fare, tell on the next season’s yield, and we think no dairyman is yet so much discouraged as not to desire to have his cows as productive as possible in the future. Now, too, is a good time to weed out the dairy. Put your pumpkins, apples, poor com and such stuff into your poorest milking animals, and make them fit to hand over to the butcher. Much more profit will be found in this than in wintering them through, with dairy products at the figures which are likely to rule for some time to come. It will pay to keep only the best, and to keep them well. The profits in dairying depend not only on economy in management, and the production of first-class goods, but in keeping only such animals as have the capacity of giving a paying return for the investment of money, care and feed put into them.— American Dairyman.