CHAPTER XII. 

 STABLE MANAGEMENT. 



STABLE MANAGEMENT IN WINTER. 



IN the winter time the cows are kept in nights, 

 and turned out during the daytime, when the 

 weather is favorable. I protest against the princi- 

 ple of keeping cows in the stable all winter without 

 going out, as is being advocated by some. The 

 argument is that cold requires extra fuel (feed), and 

 that exercise also is at the expense of extra feed, 

 and that a cow can only consume and assimilate so 

 much food in twenty-four hours, and if she expends 

 it in additional heat to keep the body warm, or in re- 

 placing the wasted tissues or muscles by exercise, she 

 will have just so much less fuel to convert into milk 

 and butter. This is undoubtedly true, theoretically 

 at least. But unfortunately this is not the whole truth. 

 While a cow is a machine, as has been said, she is 

 not an iron machine. They should most certainly 

 be turned out every day during the winter that the 

 weather is suitable, as an appetizer, an invigorator, 

 and for the relaxation of certain muscles. But while 

 it may cost a few pounds of milk in the daily yield, 

 for the year it will, I am sure, be enough greater 

 to make up any temporary loss. It must be borne 



