328 MANUAL OF FARM ANIMALS 



venience except about the feed-bunks, dry-forage-racks, and 

 water-tank. About these and extending back six feet, may 

 be placed a few loads of coarse gravel or, better still, a pave- 

 ment similar to that described above, or a plank platform. 

 Whatever the material used in construction, it should be so 

 arranged that the farmer may drive alongside the bunk or rack 

 with a load of feed. Such platforms will save feed bills enough 

 each year to pay for their construction, to say nothing of the 

 extra annoyance caused by the mud in case they are not used. 

 The same feed-bunks suggested for feeding on pasture may be 

 moved to the lot and used for winter feeding as well. As a 

 rule, it is not desirable to place the feed-bunk under the shed 

 except when the winters are extra severe. 



Dry-forage-rack. — It is not advisable to have the feed-bunks 

 and the dry-forage-racks combined, since the litter from the 

 dry forage falling upon the grain renders it distasteful to cattle, 

 particularly when on a full grain ration. Neither is i^ advis- 

 able to construct such racks under the shed except where the 

 climate is very disagreeable, though they should be placed to 

 the south of the shed or barn to protect them measurably from 

 the winds and driving storms. The form and shape of the dry- 

 forage-racks will depend on the condition in which dry forage 

 is fed, corn stalks calling for one form, hay for another, and 

 chopped hay or shredded fodder for still another. As these racks 

 are likely to be permanent, they should be constructed to meet 

 the particular conditions under which they are to be used. 



Water-tanks. — A liberal supply of fresh water is as essential 

 for winter feeding as for summer feeding. While water is 

 likely to be more plentiful in winter than in summer, it is often 

 allowed to freeze for days at a time, so that the cattle are wholly 

 deprived of a supply and often compelled to eat snow or lick 

 the ice to get the water needed for their bodies. In very severe 

 weather cattle are not likely to drink much ice water; this ob- 

 servation has led the rather careless cattle feeder to think the 



