The Weekly Kansas chief. [volume] (Troy, Kan.) 1872-1918, 1873-01-09
for the farmer.
srKaMuNG FEED FOR CATTLE.

correspondent of the Country Gentleman
Saws: have recently received a number OF let
tiers asking for information in regard to steamng
feed for cattle. and, the easiest way OF an
swering all at once, have concluded 10 write TOR
your paper q description of my barn and arrange
ments for that purpose.
have practicrsl sfeamng fes-l for my stock
since 1855, with constantly increasing confidence
in its economy. In the autumn of that year, l
found myself with stock of twenty head of cat
tie to carry through the winter with the forage
provided for six, and was consequently forced Ia
east about for the most economical method of
solving that seemingly impracticable problem. l
immediately set about preparing tocut and steam
the fodder.
Ny barn is built on side-hill, and is three
stories in part, the principal story on which the
baru floor is situated being level with the ground
n the highest side, and used entirely for the
storage Of hay, grain. &c. The next story below
opens on the baruyard, and is used for stabling
and root cellar, being under ground at one end.
Under portion of this story is a manure cellar,
80 by % feet, and feet Deep which opens on a
still lower yard.
On the stable story. is located the steam ar
part is the bOiler-room, about ten feet square,
made as near fire-proof as possible. The CHM
ney is bnilt of brick on the outside, against the
corner of the barn, and extends about six feet
above the roof at that point. The boiler (tubu-
lar) is about the capacity of q four-horse engine
is built of brick, and lined with two-inch plank,
tongued and grooved; il six feet square inside
and eight feet deep, and extends from the stable
floor TO the barn floor above, with q lid the whole
size Of the top, opening on level with the floor.
There Is alse door four feet square on one side,
near the bottom, for the purpose of taking out
the feed. The steam pipe passes directly from
the boiler to the vat, and extends around the
four sides and ACROSS the middle, about six inch
above the bottom. 1t isperforated with small
InfIs alsOt arvri
the steam. Conveniently located at one side,
above the top of the vat, is cask which holds
about two hundred gallons of water, which is
kept full by pipe connected with an aqueduct.
The fodder is cut by horse power on the barn
floor, and consists usually of about half corn
stalks and straw and one-half good hay. 1t is
thrown from the floor into the vat, and thorough
~ wet and mixed with a small quantity of meal
or bran, according to circumstances, continuing
the process until the vat is full and taking care
to tread down well, using as much water as pos
sible to cause the fodder to absorb much wa
ter as ii will hold.
usually direct my foreman to start the fire in
the boiler before he begins to fill the vat and by
the time it is full the steam begins to pass into
it, never attempted to get up much pressure,
but let the steam pass into the vat fast as it is
generated, and like to keep it on three or four
honrs-the longer the better.
feed with the steam mixture morning and
evening, and with good dry hay at noon. When
ietuIhS TINE ARRIVES, tue uOOr at the lower side
of the vat is opeiied, and sufficient quantity
Withdrawn into box, and the door closed at
once 1t is then carried to the cattle in basket
giving to each about busllel more or less, ac-
cording to size and condition. BY the time it
reaches the cattle it will be quite warm, but not
hot.
Last winter steamed but twice week, find
ing no unfavorabe effect from keeping the feed
80 long. This was done to save labor and fuel.
Three times q week is better.
Ny stock for several years has consisted of
about fifty head of Thoroughbred Ayrshire cattle
and five horses.