Lewisburg chronicle, and the West Branch farmer. [volume] (Lewisburg, Pa.) 1849-1849, 1849-10-03
Fattening Animals.


au,mals " whch are intended for the butcher
and it is important for him TO know how
he may turn such articles Of food as h.
may have on hand Tor this purpose to the
best account. Several articles, such As
pumpkins and apples, will Eot keep long,
and are TO be used in their season. if at all
The least nutritious articles, SO TAR as it can
be done conveniently should be fed out first;
aI;erwards those that are more nutriiive.
Fatening animals should be kept quiet, land
suffered to take no more exercise than is
necessary for their health. All exercise,
more than this, calls Tor an expenditure Of
food, which does not avail anything in the
process Of fatiening. They should be fed
regularly, with suitable food. and that pro-
perly prepared /; and as much should be
given them as they are able to convert in
to flesh and fat. without wasle. "ln the
animal economy, the accumula,ing Of ia,
and extra flesh, is only depsosit Of super
fluous nu'riment, which not being required
by the system at one time. is laid by for
future emergencies; and it must be ubvi-
GUS that the larger the quantity Of food
which fat,ening animal can be made to
consume daily. with good appetite, or to
digest thoroughly, the greater will be the
amount of flesh and fat gained in proper
ton to the whole quantity of food con.
sumed.
Animals will not thrive with any amoun,
Of food where they are uneasy aud discon.
tented, even if they are so closely confined
that they can not wear off their flesh by
exercise it is, therefore, important that
they be fed regularly, and there should be
nothing 10 disturb them, or excite fear or
discomfort.
OF the root crops, for nuiritive properties,
potatoes stand first then carrots, rula ba-
gas. mangel-wurzels, which are nearly as
valuable as potatoes; while the English
turnip is the least valuable and nutritious
Of grain, wheat stands firs. then peas, 10.
dian corn, barley. and last, OATS Much 10.
dian corn is used in fattenine animals-es-
pecially. swine. For these, there is un-
doubtedIy great gain in having it both
ground and cooked. Ii is said that where
swine are fed on mush or hasiy-pudding,
they are much more quiet, and consequent
iy gain flesh much faster, then when the
same Ingredients are fed to them uncooked.
The following hints on this subject, from
hat valuable agricultural journal, the Al.
bany Cul,ivator, will be found of interest
Substances in which the nuirment is
much concentrated, should be fed with care.
There is danger. especially when the ami
NAL is first put to feed, that more may be
eaten at once then the digestive organs can
manage. Meal of Indian corn is highly nu.
tri'ive,and when properly fed Causes to fat.
Ten faster thrn almost any other food. They |
will not, however, bear TO be exclusively |
KEEP. on this article for great length of
time. Meal made from The heaviest varie.
ties Of corn, especially that from The hard
flinty kinds grown in the northern and ca.
stern states,is quite too strong food for cat
tie, sheep, or horses, to be full fed upon.
Hence one Of the advantages of having the
cob ground with the corn, by which the nu-
triment is diffused through greater bulk,
lays lighter in the stomach, and is thoro'-
Iy digested. The effect pure corn mea,
on animals,we suppose TO be similar to that
sometimes produced on our own species by
the use OF fine wheaton four-the subject
becomes dyspeptic. and is forced TO eat
bread which has bran mixed with the -four.
The mixture Of the cob with the meal, an.
swers the same purpose Of the bran-the
health Of the animal is preserved. and the
process Of digestion goes on uninterrupted.
~. In fact the advantages Of grinding the
cob and corn together for feeding cattle
may oe said to be well established. For
hogs. the benefit Of the cob is MOI, we think,
so evident, those animals appearing to be
better adapted for taking their nourishment
in concentrated form. than those which
rumina,e, or chew the cud. Yet food suc.
icientIy bulky to effec, The distention Of the
bowels Is necessary for hogs.
"Hay or straw cut into lengths so shor,
Is to be readily mixed with meal, answers
, good purpose in rendering the meal cas-,
If digestion. and in enabling the animal to
extract from it all the nutriment.
"The conclusion arrived at from the re-
,ult Of series Of expe rimen,s instituted
~ Highland Society Of Scotland. few
years ago, was, that the superiority Of
,ooked over uncooked food for cattle is but
riiling, and not sufficient 10 balance the
:ost but for hogs. The extra cost Of Prepa-
,stion was repaid. ',