Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1877-05-30

Science and sense have already over
come many errors. The world still
moves. But in agriculture, as well as
provements. The student need not
despair for the reason that there are
no more fields to win or no more
heights to scale. The most common
fields of labor need TO be greatly i'm
proved by careful experiments and sci
entific skill
The system the world has so long
practiced in feeding meat and milk
producing stock, has probably no equal
III waste and cruelty. Imagine what a
human being would suffer who was so
poorly fed that he would SO decline in
flesh and strength that he would stag
ger as he walked, and disease brought
on by hunger until death ensues. And
yet this is frequently the case on poor
ly-managed farms even in Christian
communities. And it is seldom but
some domestic animals can be found
in almost any neighborhood greatly re-
duced in flesh for the want OF sufficient
food. This is the case sometimes with
that most noble and faithful of all
animals, the farm horse. So low feed
ing is the extreme of cruelty.
But it is unwise and improbable in
financial point of view. All meat
and milk producing animals, to make
them profitable, should be fed up to
the highest point of health. And to
this end we propose calling the atten-
ton of our readers to a few facts. 1t
requires a certain amount of food to
preserve the life and keep up the sys-
TEN of the animal. When the animal
is fed just this amount, and no more,
the whole amount is clear loss, as
the animal is worth no more, and pro-
duceS nothing to pay for that amount
of food. We have at our hands an
abundance of experiments and facts
to illustrate the position we wish to
enforce.
Usually our spring calves, with or
binary treatment, weigh by the Goth
of September, when grass dries up and
partially fails, about 800 pounds. Had
they been fed, in addition to what
they had, about half a pound of oil
meal or boiled ilaXseed and two pounds
of oatmeal per day for five months, or
800 pounds of oatmeal and 70 pounds
of oilmeal-both of which would cost
81 u, the calf would weigh 500 pounds
instead of 800. Then by the usual
feed a calf which weighs 300 pounds
the last of September weighs about
the same the next spring when it is
one year old. 1t has lost in flesh but
gained in frame. The seven months
would require ton of hay and few
nubbins of corn daily, and worth
probably S6. But this is all loss, as
the ca'f is no heavier than in the fall.
But If he was given in addition to the
above three pounds of oatmeal and
five pounds of cornmeal, and half a
pound of oilmeal per day for seven
months, costing S13, he would weigh
900 pounds instead or 800 at one year.
The poor calf would be worth SO, and
the fat one SIS. The latter would, it
is seen, cost in feed SIT more than the
former but would be worth S39
more. The difference in the care
Of the animals is slight, but
while the poor calf pays nothing for
the trouble, the other makes liberal
profit. But let us continue for anOth-
er year. The poor calf takes two
months to start growing, and with or
binary pasture will attain to 600 pounds
by fall, at winch it will remain until
the succeeding spring, when it is two
years old. But the fat yearling re-
quireS no time to recuperate, but
grows right on. Still keep up the eX-
ira feed of meal, of eight pounds per
day, for the 365 days-Or until it is
two years old. 1t will then weigh
1000 lbs, and will cost the last year,
in extra feed, 5000 lbs. of meal,
worth $40. The steer is now worth
500, while the other is worth SIS. The
| fat one has cost, for the two years,
S3T more than the poor one. But there
| is profit of So more on the one than
! the other. We have taken no account
of the feed given in the common, slip
shod way. III either case.
1t is useless to say that. with the
! treatment we propose, steers cannot
weight /, 500 at two years. Expert
| ment has settled this question. And
| the time is at hand, among good cattle
raisers when then steers will be ready
/ for market at two years, instead OF
three. Higher feeding and shorter
| time for maturity is now the motto
and the aim of good farmers. Good
blood and good feed will surely work
a profitable revolution State
| RsyjSfpY