Columbia democrat and star of the north. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1867, 1866-09-12
AGRICULTURAL.
FATTENING ANIMALS.


There are some rules which may be ad
7antageonsly adopted in feeding animals
which, however obvious, are often passed
over or neglected, and we propose to lay be
fore our readers few of these rules.
II IS evident that when we wish to fatter
an animal, we must not expect any labor o.
him. and hence the food for a afattening ami
NAL should be given to him in that form
which win require the least labor on his part
to convert it into the proper shape for swal-
lowing. The OK that is obliged to wander
over an acre to get the foodwhich he should
ind on a few square rods-the horse that Is
three or four hours eating the coarse food he
would swallow (just as well masticated) IN
fifteen minutes, if the grain was ground, and
the fay cut as it should be-the sheep that
spends hours in making its way into turnip
which. if it were sliced, it would eat in as
many minutes-the pig that would consume
time and waste grain In eating corn off the
cob. when it would make more fat and less
work for it if it had been ground and mixed
with water-may indeed fatten, but much
less rapidly than if there food was given to
them in proper manner. From this we
NAV deduce the rule that all food. intended
for fattening animal should as far as posi-
bic be put into proper swallowing order be-
fore animal gets it.
From the time the fattening process begins
until it is fully accomplished, the animal
should never be without feod. Health and
appetite win be best promoted by change
Of food rather than by limiting the quantity.
The animal that IS stuffed and starved by
turns may have streaked meat, but tits made
too slowly either for the pleasure or profit
of the farmer. When asked to account for
the fine appearance of his pen offat hogs, a
farmer answered that ''heneverallowed them
to squeal." This is great point When
we approach hog pen, and the contents set
up a universal squeal, we know something
is wrong either in bed or board; and when
on going into sheepfold causes universal
bIeating, it is sign that food or salt is wan
ted there.
Another important point, which is second
only to quantity, is that the food should be
given irregular periods as well as in regular
quantities. Iffed irregularly, the animal,
although it may have enough, viii soon ac-
quire restless disposition, is disturbed by
every appearance of its keeper, and is never
in that quiet state which SO much promotes
the laying on of fat. To those who have not
tried it, it VIII be surprising how soon an an
imal acquires habits of regularity In feeding,
and how soon the influence or this is felt in
the improvement of his condition. When
at the regular hour the pig hashad its ''pud-
din, and the sheep his turnips, they COM
pose themselves for rest with the conscious
ness that their digestion viii not be disturb
ed or their quiet broken by unwonted invi-
tations 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 the 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 feeding time again.
Animals while fattening should never be
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 Germantown Telegraph.