Orleans independent standard. [volume] (Irasburgh, Vt.) 1856-1871, 1869-11-09
House, Farm and Garden.
i. ID. r. COLLINS, Editor.
Feeding Fattening Cattle.

SSlNco Soidc nleIGoeiHS experiments III ldI-
tening cattle These experiments are the
result of information which cost good
deal of time and money to gain, and are
much condensed as follows
"From allowing 100 to 150 lbs of roots
per day to an ordinary sized animal, he re-
duced this quantity to so lbs. given in three
meals, morning, noon, and night. Thetur-
nips were just sliced in the ordinary way,
and given raw, but fresh. About 9 o'clock |
he gave feed of lbs of pure linseed cake
and Id. of bran to each beast, and the |
same between two and three in the after
noon; straw al ibitum was provided, and |
he offered then water for while, but find
ing they did not care about it, it was dis
continued According as the animals i'm
proved another pound of oil cake was ad-
ded per day, which they got until sold al
so gave a little salt"
In this way "an ordinary fresh beast" is
made "fat in from ten to twelve weeks"
for under seven shillings per week. In
this account the cost of the cake is f12 los.
per ton, bran &c per ton, turnips Sd. per
cwt and attendance I'D. per week-the val
lie Of the mature to pay for the straw con-
sumed. In this way upwards of 100 head,
varying from 80 to 70 stones, (of II lbs.
dead weight, were fed" This, it is said, is
given ''to prove the utter foolishness of
feeding So many turnips, as in every 100
lbs. of tu-nips there is about 90 lbs. of wa
ter and only lbs. of available dry food,
being scarcely capable of producing ID. of
meat Farmers insist upon saying that an
animal will not feed unless it receives Il
cwt of turnips per day; these men waste
the most expensive food wehave, and keep
the poor animal in a constant state of diar
rhea; it Cer,ainly gets straw, but cannot
eat much, as the stomach is overloaded
with turnirs." This keeping the stom-
ache so full also objected to, as to feed
well it should have periods OF rest.
In further proof that a small amount of
roots will suffice, it is stated that the pres
ent winter le writer is feeding only 80
lbs. per day; and to fill up the vacancy
gives cut straw in two meals and mixed
with linseed cake and bran in the same
quantities Is last winter-boiling water be
ing poured over the cake and bran first,
when after cooling it is mixed with the
straw and led. Also he gives dry straw
and water, which they drink readily" He
has had % head on this feed about six
weeks, and never had cattle doing better
Now a little calculation viii show that
this is very cheap way of feeding. The
oil cake may cost here, when bought by
the quantity, three cents q pound, or i
cents day, the bran l cent and the root,
10 day, making % cents day or 81 50 +;
week. In the calculation the manure J.
expected To pay for the straw. In ordina
~ feeding, say six to eight quarts of corr
meal and all the hay the animal will eat
the hay at So to Is and corn at 81 bush
ell it will cost from 81 to S1.33 per weel
more.
The abore experiments are, to my mind
the more valuable as they appear to agre
with John Johnson's experience in feeding
1t is well nown that Mr.. johnson ha
been very successful although feeding mucl
less per day than most farmers conside
necessary. He has stated that he seldom
feeds cattle over four or five quarts Of cor
or oil meal a duy-prefers oil meal nike
with corn meal or with some other grain
Also he feeds more straw than most farm
ers think will answer.
Now the most important point to whic
I attention is asked is what | consider Over
feeding, both in England and in this cour
= try. There, as shown by the writer in tn
@ Express, most farmers think cattle will Ne
/, feed well unless they eat two or three busl
Y els of turnips a day; and here, most farm
4 ers think that cattle must have to S qt
= of corn meal and all the hay they Will ga
- Now believe this Is not strictly correC
p With such high feeding there is not til
: perfect digestion and assimilation that n;
q. be secured by 4 better selection, and MO
variety and less crowding. In 50 MAJ
= roots there is an excess of watery dilut,
Y food while in feeding heavily on gra
p and hay, there Is an over supply Of ri,
70 dry feed. But while the unfavorable
P fects of either course may not be suffice
p to prevent fatteuing, it seems that mu
less of either roots or grain can be made
l. answer a very good purpose; and where
II due portion of both roots and oil cake
Of fed, the saving and beneficial effects 8
D still more decided. The roots seem to pr
mote more thorough and complete dig
ton Of the other feed, while oil cake 9
pears to give better appetite for Goa
no fodder like straw, while small portion
r roots and oil cake fed with grain and
erent kinds of fodder, secures cheaper a
% better results for cost than can be obtain
by feeding much more heavily of eitl
nj roots or grain without such variety.
he These facts I consider of especial imp
lance to American farmers. 1t has bt
cd often said that they cannot feed to so C
ri advantage as English farmers, because 70
nd are not so easily grown here as there.
nv this shows that large amount of root
,se not necessary, while the amount rea
nd needed may be grown by every good fal
er without much difficulty. And then
ZEN advantage in feeding a portion of oil ca
- not only to keep up a good appetite
ION coarse fodder, but for its value in fatteni
He is not easily over-estimated. The alb
YES writer speaks strongly in favor of pure
Nv cake. John johnson has done the sa
and also of oil meal mixed with meal Fl
nv corn and other grain. Now this open
way for grain farmers, who have Is
ant amount of cornstalks and straw, to fee
let very good advantage; for with three
4 four pounds of oil meal, mixed with
many pounds of corn meal, and ha
% bushel to bushel of roots a day, with p
tho ty of stalks or straw, an animal shoult
ow we'll If the straw is cut, roots pu
asst and with the meal all mixed together,
red ing hot water in cold weather. it will
wav still better; but it is evident that very
HE results may be obtained without this e
and trouble.
the Ofcourse good care is necessary.
got writer has tried feeding in yards, stalls
n to loose boxes, Tor pens, and prefers the
ir, / ter, but mainly for the reason that the
Y do NAL appears more comfortable. This
pears to be the main point: the more
" or and comfortable an animal can be
Of the easier and better it feeds. have
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