The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1870-04-07
HOW THE GREAT BEEVES WERE FED.

We gave an accout last week of the great beet
cattle of Mr. Ayrault, of Duchess county, New
York. While they were in the New York market
the Farmers Club sent committee to examine
jh2m. The following report was made upon the
size of the steers. their appearance and the methods
by which such remarkable results We're attained:
The beasts of wonderful size, the biggest OF
them standing nearly six feet from the ground.
They fat As they are bg-boned, and weigh as
we are informed. from $500 to little less than :
900, nearly two tons.
In blood these heeves are seyen-eghths short
horn; the other eighth is Of large-boned native
animal. They are not pedigree cattle, but have
been bred for fatenng qualities The sire of their
father was a kentucky bull and the mother was
from a good herd in Western New York. They
We're fed in the usual way till three years of age
that Is, they had good summer range, and sweet
hay in winter with little grain, especially oat pro
Vcnder or wheat shorts, on which their growth was
uninterrupted. but not very rapid.
At the age OF four the fattening began. They
were given peck of dry meal each day at two
feeds. The meal was mostly Indian with some rye
shorts or oat provender to give it ghtness, and tc
furnish more gluten and more bone phosphate thar
could be expected from the Indian meal alone
They also fed about the quantity of root.
As they received of grain, nearly peck at feed
twice day. They had all times much early-cut
sweet, upland hay as they could eat. In summer
they had two ranges for pasturage, one new seeded
and the other Old bottom. They ranged over each
ol every uN ana lS nu ever variety OF grasses
Moreover, they were fed with hay in summer. Il
was found that no matter how good their pasture
they never lost their appetite for lock of good
sweet Old hay, not even i'll July.
As the object in tattenlng an animal is to induce
him to eat and to assimilate the greatest quantity
fesl-makng food, variety should be carefully
studied. When he seems to have enough of tho
best of hay, he will eat roots with zes; and full
rs an animal may appear to be be of nutritious
grasses. he will eat good hay with an avidity some
what surprising.
When these steers were four years old and past
they weighed from 900 to $500. The year follow
ing they gained about 800 all round and theil
weight was from $500 to 5000 and over. The yeal
following the last year of their lives, though grea
pains were taken, they did not gain so fast and il
the past two weeks they have gone back so pound,
| each.
He is Il good feeder who can in twclve-month ge
his herd to take on 400 pounds all round; but Mr.
| Aylault has had beasts to take on 800 and 60l
pounds. SO far profit is concerned, he has gain
cd nothing from the last year of their lives eXcep
in the fancy prices which animals like these com
maud, simply account of their magnitude. HI
thinks five years is the age when tatenng anima
is likely to yield the most for the care and foo(
which he has required. He is doubtful whcthe,
an immense size. Great care and watchfuness are
required TO keep the appetite free, constant and
wise variety Of food must be given, and it is only
an accident that cattle be found so wonderfully
disposed to take on flesh.
Your committee cannot but express 4 conviction
that Mr.. Ayrault deserves the thanks of farmers
for having shown, to degree never before reached
in this country, the results that may be had by I
wise choice of animals to fatten, and by constant
care and skill in feeding. He has proved also, the
wonderful and exact adaptation of the short-horl
stock for beef making.