The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1876-12-28
THE PRESS.
THE FARM AND HOUSEHOLD.
Cooking Food for Animals.

ject in the papers, land at farmers gatherings.
ejudge that the question is not yet settled
whether it is profitable to cook food for ami
mails. A matter of so much Importance, in
velving largely profit or loss, and coming
within the range of every mans experience,
should be decided and upon the same prin-
ciples of reason and common sense which
underlie the decision of every important
question.
In mild climates, where cattle, sheep, and
poultry roam at large and subsist entirely
upon the natural productions of the earth !:
they thus take flesh and fat in a satisfactory
manner and reach an early maturity. No
fault is found with such results from Natures
processes and any complaint hat there had
been no intention of artificial methods in
such cases, would be alike rare and unreason-
able. With such surroundings or where all
the conditions are favorable, cooked food
would not be required, simply upon the
ground that it was superfuous labor or a
waste OF time and money, and possibly a
source of mischief. Pure air, running water,
and good grass with such other incidental
aids as are afforded by the animal and vegeta-
BILE kingdoms in large extent of territory, can
never be surpassed by any other artificial
agencies that may be used in feeding and fat
tening stock. The dissatisfied person who
wishes to improve upon such conditions
would do well to remember the unfortunate
fate of similar adventurer recorded in the
brief epitaph; II was well, 1 wished to be
better, and here am I.'-This is our impression
that farm stock in healthy state only need
good food in abundance, warm quarters, and
kind treatment, to insure that they will
thrive, even without the addition of cooked
food.
We are aware that in our northern regions,
shelter and additional warmth are required
merely to keep stock alive, and therefor an
apparent argument in favor of cooking food
is based upon this necessity. 1t is also true,
that average farms produce an amount of
second class material, which it is frequently
convenient and sometimes necessary to dis
pose of for feeding purposes, and every season
more or less of the fodder crops are badly
cured, or damaged by disease or furgous
germs. For all such cases some remedy
seems to be needed. While we are convinced
that wholesome and nutritious food in its
natural state is the best food for animals, we
also admit that it is best by all available
means to bring doubtful substances used for
food, as near the correct standard as may be.
For such season therefore, we should recon-
mend the application of beet to damaged
or diseased fodder crop, 10 order that all
danger to the animals consuming it might be
prevented or diminished. Thus, rusty hay
ar straw, and even partially decayed roots
may be made comparatively harmless.
We :hink it has been sufficiently established
that when any great muscular effort has been
required of a class of animals, or they have
been subjected to great test of strength or
endurance; cooked food is always proscriber
as it produces unfavorable results. Why not
adopt this as general rule in stock raising,
allowing an occasional exception in favor
of young animals of whom no service IS,
required, or of the weak and sickly ones who
need hospital fare.
When the teeth and stomachs of certain
animals have been admirably arranged for
the grinding and digesting of corn and grain.
and when the preponderance of intelligent
and scientific evidence favors the use of such
food in its original condition, why should it
not be thus administered? Admitting that
animals will eat in a cooked compound, SUBJ
stances which they would refuse: separately,
or IN nm and yuoh how a,olx,
lished the fact that thereby they may be
more readily deceived not that they have
received any benefit, very much as bad coin
may be placed between two good ones and so
perhaps passed off upon the unsuspecting.
All such practices in feeding defeat the real
intention of economizing, for although penny
wise. they prove in the end pound foolish.
Our conclusions are that the several kinds
of farm stock will do best when fed upon
their own appropriate vegetable food in its
natural condition. That they will be not
only in better health, but that they will make
the largest returns and of the best quality,
whether of milk, flesh, or work, and of course
the greatest profit. Animals may be crammed
with some kinds of cooked food and thus
made to take on loads of flesh or fat, but we
regard it as unwholesome, and generally it is
produced at the cost of the he 18th of the ami
NAL and is consumed at the risk of those who
eat it. The apparent gain, in nearly all such
cases we are confident is a real loss. While
we favor making full provision for the exter-
nal and internal warmth of stock during our
long and severe winters, and so far as food is
concerned, this may be done by the direct
agency of fire or hot water before feeding;
we at the same time regard the cooking OF
food for them as an unnecessary and unprofi-
table expenditure.
Plants i'm Houses,