Vermont farmer. [volume] (Newport, Orleans County, Vt.) 1870-1877, 1875-12-24

~ IVY ". - PvN"No " n"J ~ w H's'@NN'
as much butter as Shorthorn Of l,20O
pounds which is assumed to require 86 pounds
Of hay per day, hs'snalleri breed lie more
profitable. We have never been satisfied Of
sbe accuracy Of this three per ceat rule. And
have never seen reports Of experiments which
called for change Of opinion on the subject.
We hold our opinion on this as on all other
agricultural questions, subject 70 modification
upon proper occasion, aud will abandon pet
theories and favorite stock upon conviction
that something better is in the market.
The question is one ofrsally great moment
to farmers, aud calls for their careful con-
sideration. They are bound 70 search fer
truth and not for data to bolster up their
own notions. t''in' @
The Vermont Watchman in recent issue
discusses ths subject aud in . calculation
based on the three-per-cent rule, estimates
that in seven years the difference between
two herds Of fourteen each, one herd aver
aging 600 pounds live weight, the other 500
pounds, would amount to AZ tons Of hay in
seven years. Ofsetting the supposed larger
consumption in summer against the larger
quantity Of msuure, and calling the hay $40
per ton, the larger animals must be sold at
S3357 each more than the smaller ones at
the end of the seven years to bring the ac-
count out even. .rf. stlss.4sa
n The New E0gland Farmer makes extracts
from the Watohman and comments thereon,
from which we make the following xtracts {:
We shall not attempt TO decide this ques-
tion, but only mention few ideas that have
been suggested by reading the above quota
tions from the doctors problem. And 6rst,
is it a fact that different breeds do consume
the same per cent of food on their live
weight? How many carefully conducted ex-
perments have been made With different
breeds, of cows, or, with different COWS of the
same breed. which prove that all cows or all
breeds of cows consume three pounds Of good
hay or its equivalent for each hundred pounds
Of live weight2 Wehave no statistics at hand
which will throw much light upon this sub.
ject, but we are inclined to believe that the
per cent OF food eaten by different COWS, and
by different breeds Of cows, will vary con-
siderably in many cases from the standard
adopted in this calculation.
Cows, like human beings. seem TO vary
very much in their ability to digest and as
remark, also, holds good with horses. Who
has not seen two horses performing an equal
amount Of work, the one requiring consid-
erably larger per cent Of food on its live
weight to keep up present condition than the
other Before spending great deal Of
mental effort in the discussion of this ques-
tion, we shall wish 60 be assured that the
premises are correct. lr-t .agN4
1t is often claimed by farmers who dis
like the large Asiatic breeds Of fowls, that
T these large, uwkward birds eat twice as much
as the smaller baru-yard fowls, and, while
they are growing, this is undoubtedly near
the truth. 1t must take more food to make
eight pounds OF flesh and bones than to make
four pounds, and yet we think we can see
how the small breeds may require more food
in proportion to thei. size than the larger
ones as when the small ones are full of life
and activity, ready to run, Ay, scratch, crow
or fight at any moment, while the quiet
Asiatics just eat and sleep, or lie around do
ing nothing all the day long.
The Shorthorn cattle have been bred foI
D years principally for their beef, and thoJ
have been so handled that they have acquires
a very quiet temperament They waste yer,
little food by mental or bodily excitement
while animals OF some other breeds may be
worrying or fighting away a &C. siderable
portion Of the food material they consume
We have believed that this difference IN tenn
9 permanent had much 10 do with the cost o
r keeping hundred pounds of living flesh
q whether II is carried by horse, COW, hog
\ hen or human being. s .a.s,a
We do not deny the statement that thre
> per cent of food, upon their live weight,
n required for average animals, but we are /
doubt as to whether sufficient experiment
have been made upon different breeds, t
q establish the assertion. We know that tn
( Shorthorns are accused by those who diI
{ like them Of being enormous eaters, and tbs
e the enemies OF the Jerseys complain Of theI
:, that they are dainty, and do not eat near a
" heartily az cattle should to be hardy an
i healthy. For our own part, We rather &C
d mire pretty good sized cattle, and we like
D.. see them put down the hay when eating
aslif it tasted good, for when we are teedin
such animals we have reason to expect III
Ia eral return for the food consumed. either
milk or flesh but as butter making is
specially with us, we shall be glad to 81
D. change our present stock for smaller animal
if 1t can be proved that the gain on the foC
u. consumed will be anywhere near equal Il
7 amount figured out by our friend Hoskir
, for here in Massachusetts, the average valu
~ Of ton OF hay is not ten, but more tina
n twenty dollars, and consequently the re
re loss must be nearer seventy dollars thG
thirty-three, on each animal fed. If any
our readers can throw light on this impo
u tant subject, we shall be glad to publii
Al. their communication in the Farmer.