South Branch intelligencer. [volume] (Romney, Va. [W. Va.]) 1830-1896, 1874-01-30
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thing that goes - make up
whether 1t be OF the cafoivorodS
orous animal comes originally 4
or Its product, grain; for the grs
is dovoured by the flesh eater, and
again to that grass from which Il was g.
Thus it goes on in one unceasing rouno
from generation 20 generation, from centu-
ry to century, aud cycle to Cycle, nothing
being lost, nothing gained, only changed !;
Tor nature, the great restorer, brings all
things back again in the end TO dust, from
whence all 81 rang. Tho observing farmer
knows that the profit or loss 10 feeding an
imals consists in the economy with which
the food is assimilated. Il takes a certain
amount of food TO supply the waste, to keep
up the animal heat. This being accom- lish-
ed, the balance builds up the animal struc-
iure, adds to the growth Of the several
parts, or, in the mature animal, accumu-
iates tat, either in masses, or contained in
the various tissues. 10 warm weather, on
full feed, both fat aud flesh are stored
! largely. In oold weather il wastes away
and supports combustion and other animal
waste. Therefore, in fattening animals, if
we intend to reap profit from their feeding,
they must be provided with quarters where
the waste from cold will be but slight, or
else the food must be so cheap, or in such
quantities as 20 compensate for this lose
The amount Of shelter which will be most
economical, tho farmer must decide for
himself. Without some shelter from winds
and rains, unless in exceptional seasons, the
animal must undoubtedly loose flesh unless
exceedingly well fed. Tho bones, horns,
hoofs, and hair of the animal do not waste.
They, with the btpO3 and skin, constitute
tuily ono half If che dead weight Of tho an
imsl. Therefore, ifthe animal dress only 5
hundred pounds of meat and bone, tho bnfch.
er'cannot afford to pay nearly SO much per
poVnd as he ooulfif it. dress 1000 or l.
pounds, with only. the came amount
pne, &c., as in the fra, instance.
bs one of the principal reasons why
tat cattle bring so much more than
fattenei ones, another reSson
being that the muscular structure Of fat
cattle or other. stock is far superior to chat
OF lean enes... Tue feeder, therefore, who
allows hrs animals to fall away in flesh.
loses not only tho price of the ueat, but
double apd< sometimes treble. that price,
and'the flesh lost is equivalent to money
thrown away. HeEee Tie necessity First,
OF good shelter fSr feeding second, good
care and regularity in the feeding and wa.
tering; and third, an abundance ofeboth
food aud water of tie best quality. Those
in the West who practice feeding their
rough grain to animals, rather than send
East or to Europe to iatten animals There,
are well off. Tho most prosperous farmers
in anS country are the breeders and feeders
of stock. The markets of the world can
never be gluttcd with meat, for increased
production in packed meats causes an To-
creased consumption, and but slight de-
probation iu price in The markets of the
world, while an increased production Of all
grains soon gluts the market, to the loss
of the grower. Western men are beginning
to realize this. The fear has been express.
ed shat the expectation of meat would be
overdone. No danger of that There is
ample room for expansion 10 this direction
without danger of glutting the market
Vermont Farmer.