Lewistown gazette. [volume] (Lewistown, Pa.) 1843-1944, 1867-06-26
AGRICULTURAL.
FATTENING ANIMALS.

There are some rules which may be
advantageously adopted in feeding an
imals, 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 of him, and hence the food
for fattening animal should be given
to him in that form which will require
the least labor on his part to convert
it into the proper shape for swallow
ing. The OK that is obliged to wan
der over an acre TO get the food which
he should find on few square rods
the horse that is three or four hours
eating the coarse food he would swal
low jnsta as well masticated) in fifteen
minutes, if the grain was ground, and
the bay cut as it should be-the sheep
that spends hours in making its way
into II tnrnip which, If it were sliced,
lit would cat in as many minutes-the
pig that would consume time and waste
grain IN eating corn off the cob, when
lit would make more fat and less work
for it ii it had been ground and mixed
with water may indeed fatten, but
much less rapidly than if there food
was given to them in a proper manner
From this We may deduco the rule that
all food intended for fattening ami
NAL should as far as possible be put
into proper swallowing order before
the animal gets it.
From the time the fattening process
begins until it is fully accomplished,
the animal should never be without
food. Health and appetite will be
best promoted by change of food
rather than by limiting the quantity.
The animal that is stuffed and starry.
ed 10y turns may have streaked meat,
but is made too slowly either for the
pleasure or profit of the farmer. When
asked to account for the fine appear
ance of his pen of fat hogs, farmer
answered that he never allowed them
to squeal This is great point
When we approach u hog pen, and
the contents set up n universal squeal,
we know something is wrong either in
bed or board and when on going into
a shecptold causes Il universal bleating,
it is a sign that food or salt is wanted
there
Another important point, which is
second only to quantity, is that the
food should be given at regular peri.
DDS as well as in regular quantities
Ii fed irregularIy, the animal, although
it may have enough, will soon acquire
"a 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. 70
those who have not tried it, it will be
surprising how soon an animal acquires
habits OF regularity In feeding. and
h@1W soon the influence of this is ieItin
the improvement of his condition.
v hen at the regular hour the pig has
had its 'pudding,' and the sheep his
turnipS, they compose themselves for
rest with the consciousness that their
digestion will not be disturbed or their
quiet broken by unwOntcd invitations
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 per
tectly quiet, while in the light the re.
verse 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
10 the dark and fed only at stated pc.
riods. There is no surer proof that
pig is doing well than to see him eat
his meal quickly and 90 to bed to sleep
until feeding time again.
Animals while fattening should new
er be alarmed, never rapidly driven,
never ted at unreasonable hours, and
above all things never be allowed to be
in want Of food even for half an hour.
r f Q I p T. s