Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1870-12-10
Sfeamiug Food for stock.

The re ason for winter feeding has come again
and we have lost no time in getting the stock
the IN 20 their winter feed.
The summer was SO dry that the product of
the GARY ran down to q very low ebb. aud even
the better pastures OF October did no. suffi ce to
point. Two weeks ago we commenced feeding
full rations OF steamed food, and within that
time the weekly product of butter has increased
about thirty per cent, which is a sufficient vim
dicaIion Of the policy of eteaming.
The food consists OF hay, corn butts, and I'M
threshed oats. cut short and mixed together.
bran, liberal allowance, and thoroughly
steamed. At first, even the animals that were
kept on this provender all last winter show wed
no especial liking for it, bat after two or three
days all we're eager for it, and the whole herd ia
low in blooming condition. The most notable
feature on entering the stable after the strong
aromatic odor from the steaIhing chest) is the
fact that most OF the animals are lying down
and chewing the cud. The fact is that the food.
being very palatable and already half masti-
Gated, is easily eaten, the cows soon fill them
selves, and, with an ar of gre at bodily comfort
they lOp down and have quiet and happy ru,
mination.
AS to the absolute economy of steamine we
have no evidence to offer that would be or scien-
tile value, for experiments in feeding require a
careful consideration OF circumstances aud A
comparison Of results between mauy animals
under the same condition for a long time-an
amount OF exactness in the observation OF
weight, temperature, atmospheric condition,
condition as to pregnancy, &C., &C. which
would be impossible in ordinary farm manage
ment with uneducated hands: 1t is plain
enough, however, that the saving in food is
very considerable in quantity, and still greater
In quality. We have never yet seen any dry hay
m na decay %Ha sSa. it did @ns hy
palatable land apparently nutritious iooD on
being steamed. All offensive iori DESTROYED.
the flavor of whatever mill-feed we use is diff,
fused throughout the mass, and this is theory,
but We believe it fully,) the cellular tissue or
the hay, which is entirely indigestible when
eaten dry, is made digestible by cooking Prob
properly cured, is as palatable and as easily
digested as any food can be. We doubt il
steaming would improve it very much. But
the effect OF steaming on ordinary hay, which
Is much too old when cut, and has much woody
fbre in it, is so marked that no one with an
opportunity to observe it can fail to see its
benefit.
In addition to the other advantage of the sys-
tenn, too much Importance cannot be attached
to the complete destruction Of the germin atipo
power Of the seeds Of weeds. This effect is so
certain, that We would not hesitate to feed out
q stack of Canada thristles cut when in ripe
seed; and we question whether the labor saved
in wedding lowing to the absence of living
seeds in the manurel is not fully equal to that
consumed in preparing their food for stea ming
We have nothing to add to the infor nation or
our previous articles on this subject by way of
instruction as to the details of the process; but
We shall be at all times ready to answer, to the
best of our ability, any questions our readers
may PROFOUND on the subject.
What we especially desire in closing this ar
ticle is to impress on the minds Of all who Are
interested in the feeding Of live stock the i'm
portance OF giving more attention to this sub
ject. Hundreds of intelligent farmers in All
parts Of the country have given the system a
practical trial, and have pronounced in its
favor. The average verdict Of all IL that saw
ing OF fully one-third In effected. That ia. ~ a
COW will eat three thousand pounds of uncooked
hay in winter, she will keep in better condi.
ton on two thousand pounds cooked. and
that the same ratio or ECONOMY Win he
maintained in the case Of the meal or bran fed
with the hay. 1t is, at least, the dutv of
every stock feeder (f he considers economy a
duty to investigate the question thoroughly.
and to either satisfy himself by positive reason,
ing mot by his prejudices) that the reports of
those who have tried the system are falae or
else to adopt IL himself We cannot afford In
throw away the millions OF dollars worth on
good hay that our ill-fed animals anpuallv
uample under foot in barnyards and fields.
neither can We afford that the hay thew do eat
should do only two-thirds the work it i. ca
pable Of
For ourselves, we are firmly convinced that
the steamiDg OF fodder is as great an improve
ment as its most enthusiastic advocates claim
1t to be, and we urge every one Of our farmer
readers to at least give 1t his careful attention.
And this brings US naturally to another topic
about which too much cannot be said or writ
ten.-N. i. Post.