Sunbury American. [volume] (Sunbury, Pa.) 1848-1879, 1866-12-15
AGRICULTURAL, &C.
Eatteninr AuimaJs

There are some rules which may be ad-
vantageous'y adopted in feeding animals,
| which, however obvious, are often passed
over or neglected, and we propose to lay
before our readers few of these rules 1t
is evident that when we wish TO fatten an
animal, we must not expect any labor from
him, and hence the food for a fattenipr
animal should be given to him ia that form
which will require the least labor on his
part to convert it into the proper shape for
swallowing. The OK that is obliged to
wander over an acre to get the food which
he should find on a few square rods-the
horse that is three or four hours eating the
coarse food he would swallow Gust as well
masticated) in fifteen minutes if the grain
was ground, and the hay cut as it should
be-the sheep shat spends hours in making
its way into turnip, which, if it were
sliced, 1t would eat in as many minutes
the pig that would consume time and waste
grain in eating corn of the cob, when it
would make more fat and less work for it,
if it had been ground and mixed with wa.
ter-may indeed fatten, but much less ra.
pidly than if their food was given to them
in proper manner. From this VIC may de-
duce the rule that all food intended for
fattening animal should, as far as possible,
be put in proper swallowing order before
.he animal gets it. From the time the fat
tening process begins until it is fully &C.
| complished, the animal should never be
without food, Health and appetite will hc
best promoted by u change of food rather
than limiting the quantity. The animal
that is stuffed and starved by turns may
have streaked meat, but it is made too
slowly, either for the pleasure or profit of
| the farmer. When asked to account for the
| fine appearance of his pen of fat hogs, a far.
mer answered that "he never allowed them
to squeal." This is q great point. When
we approach hog pen, and the contents get
up universal squeal, we know something
is wrong either in bed or board and when
going into a sheepfod causes universal
blcating, it is a sign that food or salt is
wanted there. Another important point.
which is only second to quantity, is that
the fno6 should be given at regular periods,
as well as in regular quantities If fed ir.
regularly, the animal, although it may have
enough, will soon acquire restless DISPOSE
ton, is disturbed by every appearance Of
his keeper, aud is never in that quiet state
which so much promotes the laying on Of
fat. To those who have not tried it, it will
be surprising how soon An animal acquires
habits of regularity in feeding. and how
soon the influence of this is felt in the i'm.
provement of his condition. When at the
regular hour the pig has had its pudding"
and the sheep his turnips, they compose
! themselves to rest with the consciousness
that their digestion will not be disturbed,
or their quiet broken by unwonted invita-.
tions to eat. All animals fatten better in
the dark than in the light, and this can
only be accounted for by the increased quiet.
In the dark the animal remains perfectly
quiet, while in the light rhe reverse is often
the case. Some kinds of stock which are
the most irritable in confinement, as turkeys
and geese, are found to lay on fat best when
confined in the dark, and fed only at stated
periods. There is no surer proof that pig
is doing well than to see HIM eat his meal
quickly and go to bed to sleep until feed.
| ing time again. Animals while fattening
should never be alarmed, never rapidly
driven, never fed at unreasonable hours, and
above all things, never be allowed to be in
want of food, even for half an hour Ger
! mdntoun telegraph.