American citizen. [volume] (Butler, Butler County, Pa.) 1863-1872, 1863-12-23
Che Farmers department.
Hints on Feeding and Fattening.


Hints on Feeding and Fattening.
Animals destined for the shambles
are disposed of to the butcher to the
best advantage, if well fattened.--
The reason is that the flesh of fat
animal is better than that of lean
one, more delicate in flavor, tenderer,
sweeter. iucier-this aside from the
value of the fat itself. A very fat
animal is not in natural condition,
and on this account It's desirable that
the feeding should be broughtas rap
idly and steadily as possible to con-
summation. 1t is most undesirable
to have any cheek to the steady lay
ing on of flesh and fat; positive fal-
ling off in flesh is with sheep usually
fatal to their ever fattening well. Fat
tening animals are peculiarly liable to
certain obscure disorders, owing to
the unnatural circumstances in which
they are placed. Good farmers there
fore exert themselves to keep stock
stalled for fattening, healthy, by Civ
ing them the comfort of clean stalls,
the tonic of fresh air, the increased
appetite accompanying a variety or
change of diet, healthy skin secur-
ed by occasional currying, now and
then a little salt as an appetizer, and
to secure freedom from anxiety by
quiet surroundings, regular feeding,
and the kindest trc atment.
In feeding swine, which are the
most easily fattcned of our domestic
animals, great economy may be exer-
cised by feeding very regularly, by
cooking the food, by occasionally feed
ing raw roots in small messes as
general corrective, by feeding finely
broken up charcoal now and then, or
giving the hogs access to it, and Sc
curing cleanliness where they are fed
in pens. 1t is well to remove from
such hogs the inducement to exercise
in roofing, by wiring their noses.
A hard worked OK will never grow
fat. The more work he does, the less
will he lay on fat, the amount of food
being equal; and conversely, the less
he works, the more easily will he fat,
ten. Used in horsepower" he may
grind much corn; standing In hs
stall he may grind only mat which
he himself consumes. Labor is ex-
pended in both coses, and why may
we not argue that the fattening of
the animpl is retardedin proportion to
the apeount oslabor he does, and that
the labor of tk beast in grinding his
own corn is thus loss to the farmer.
Cooked feed digests more easily than
raw; that is, the stomach labors less.
Do we not profit therefore in cooking
the food, even of neat stock In
feeding this class of animals the mod
crate fermentation of hay and stalks
in connection with bran or corn meal
and little salt, whereby the stalks
become softened and the flavor of the
meal and salt disseminated through
out the mass, has been found a great
saving. This is cooking without fuel.
Steaming fodder is extensively prac-
tised also, as is well known, with eco
nomical results where it is conducted
on sufficiently large scale and with
requisite care. Sheep are best fed
on raw material. Let them grind
their own grists. For some reason
they seem to have better health for
it. The exception does not initiate
against the rule, but shows the ne
cessity Of watching the effect upon
all animals Of artificial diet and un-
natural surroundings.