The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1878-02-01
From THE Lancaster Examiner, Jan. 8, 1878.
Lancaster County Beef. ASA co.,.

About four or five weeks since we trans
ferred from the Lancaster Egaminer to our
agricultural column, an article on the above
| subject, which has excited a good deal of
interest among our farmers as they are now
giving more attention, as is done in Lam
caster county, to the feeding of cattle, than
heretofore. One of these farmers is so much
interested on the subject as to desire addi-
tional information, and has requested US to
| ask the editor of the Examiner, who con-
tributed the first article, the following
questions, answers to which will, doubtless
be as useful to the readers of that paper as
our own:
How is corn fed-whether chopped cob
and all, or shelled
Is oats or millstuff mixed with the corn
| or not q?
How often day are the cattle fed The
great trouble is to get them to eat a suffi-
cient quantity without surfeit.
Is anything fed to stimulate the appe-
tite9 .--,
At what age are cattle the best feeders
--HagerStoa0n Mail.
Not only has the article above referred
| TO attracted attention abroad, but to
many of our own citizens the magnitude of
| the value and number of beeves fed in this
county Was new revelation. The feeding
of the present season exceeds that of any
previous year 10y several thousand head
We shall answer the questions asked by
| the Mail, as best we may, in the hope that
the information will be of interest not only
to our friends in Maryland but as we'll to
our readers nearer home.
Corn is not fed, cob IN all, by any of our
farmers most extensively engaged in pre-
pairing prime cattle for the Philadelphia
and New York markets.
Chopped shelled corn mixed with oats or
millstuff, in the proportion of one bushel
of the latter to three of the former and
thoroughly wet up with warm water, is
given. To make variety of food for the
cattle, the dry corn, unmixed, is occasional
ly fed, which plan is found useful in stimu-
lating the appetite and obviates the neces.
sity for any artificial stimulants.
The general practice is to feed three
times day, at regular intervas-say at 6
A. NJ, 12 M. and 6 P. NJ. When cattle are
first tied up four quarts are given at each
feeding, with hay and corn fodder during
the night and between meals. The auau,
tity is increased from four quarts to eight
uuiin5 wv Ola vi oiSiit ui'htuS leQulItu IOT
iattening. The greatest care is taken not
to give an overdose of feed, as it will fire.
quently give cattle backset from which
they will not recover for week or ten
days. Water is usually given but once
day now, the moisture in the chopped feed
being taken into consideration. Many of
those who feed the largest number of cat
tie have introduced water into their barns,
and after they have tied their cattle up in
the fall, never turn them out till they are
sold. Before stabling it is very desirable
to pasture few weeks, giving the cattle
once or twice day a few quarts of bran
and chopped corn and salt to lick. This
rests them after long drive or ride in the
cars and gives them good start for the
strong feeding that awaits them.
The best age for fattening is from four to
five years, though some three year Odds turn
out very well.