THE FARM.

Alexandra Herald and Central Otago Gazette, Issue 351, 29 January 1903, Page 5

THE FARM.

GIVE FATTENING CATTLE GOOD SHELTER. Those who are feeding cattle during the winter are laboring under difficulties not usually prevented. Desirable stores are high. Only such should be purchased if the farmer expects a liberal or even any return at all for his labor and feed. Then the kind of feed desired by the expert farmer, and required by the animal to return the best results are also high. Now, in order to 6ven things up somewhat, the farmer must look carefully to the comfort of the animals, the shelter, water, proper care and quality of feed, salt, &c. Cattle should not stand out in the rain, sleet or snow, or bo compelled to lie down at night or day in a wet bed. A roof over them, with a reasonably good shelter from winds and snow drifts, will repay the feeder many times the first year. For fattening cattle the stable need not have the cracks stripped or battened. The animal heat of the cattle after the doors are shut will be ample. The animal is the stove, the food the fuel. Then see to it that the cattle have a good deal of straw to lie on. This is not wasted by any means. The manure will add to the small income. Comfort and contentment are two things that will materially hasten the fattening of cattle. By having a good shelter in time of storm, a good bed to lie on, ruminate and sleep, the cattle make much more rapid progress than they would with bad conditions. Salt should be' kept near all the time under shelter. If this is neglected and a quantity given at a time, inflammation will be the result, accompanied by looseness of the bowels. The cattle will stand still for from two to five days, thus resulting in a 1083 to the farmer of from four to five pounds. This may be small, but it is worth looking after. Keep plenty of water where the cattle can get to it at their will.. During cold weather the feeder should use a tank heater. Cattle will stand and drink and shiver, taking two or three swallows at a time until satisfied. Now, if the water was brought up to something near the temperature of the body, digestion cculd go on without stop or hindrance. But this cold water must be warmed up before it can be utilised, and therefore another stop in its money-making for the farmer.—" N.Z. Farmer."

It is understood that two blood horses for the Agricultural Department, .the purchase of which was arranged for by the Premier during his stay in England, are on their way OU t./£E<isi*n • ;."•. ....'. '. The " Southern Standard " predicts a seriou&shortage in feed in Southland during the coming winter. The late period at which farmers have been able to get their turnip seed in'the ground precludes all expectation of a prolific harvest, and the shortage in the oat crop duetothewet weather will, or course, result in a corresponding scarcity of straw. ' The combined shortage in both turnips and straw makes it most probable that fat stock will fetch high prices next winter.