CARRYING CATTLE THROUGH THE WINTER 225 



both mild and dry, shelter besides that which will pro- 

 tect them from the winds may not be necessary. Such 

 shelter is most cheaply found in groves located in the 

 narrow basins of streams, or on the bluffy sides of the 

 same. The few storms that come in winter will do 

 some harm, of course, to the stock, but at such times 

 the storms will not greatly retard development. The 

 streams hard by furnish the necessary water. Cattle 

 have been wintered thus in groves in the West, even 

 farther north than the Canadian boundary, without 

 losing any individuals of the herd through exposure. 

 But in cold situations far north more shelter even for 

 these classes of cattle would prove economical. 



For such animals shelter furnished by stables is 

 seldom necessary. It may be provided under some con- 

 ditions by open sheds only, even on the exposed prairies. 

 But when these are aided by high and close yard in- 

 closures, or when the sheds and yards are located within 

 dense groves or rims of forest, and further protected by 

 an adjoining blufif, the physical conditions for wintering 

 are just so much more complete. When storms are fre- 

 quent, and especially when they occasionally assume the 

 character of cold rain or sleet, the protection is a real 

 necessity. The construction of the sheds may be of the 

 cheapest, as, for instance, baled straw or poles, and a 

 plentiful covering of straw, hay, or litter over them. 

 Under arable conditions, sheds of construction that is 

 more stable and which forms a part of the permanent 

 shelter, will generally be used. In the absence of a high 

 inclosure of windbreak on the windward side of the 

 yards, or, what is better, around them, a high protection 

 of close boards is greatly helpful. In its absence a pro- 

 tection made of hay or straw, or corn stalks, may take 

 the place of the fence. Whether the animals shall have 

 access to these or not must be determined by the plen- 

 tifulness or the cheapness of the supplies. The fodders 

 in these stacks should be fed so as to leave those longest 



