Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1879-04-11
Stock Feeding by Small Farmers.

About all the farmers in this country
annually fatten at least few pigs. But
very many farmers who have but forty,
or eighty, or 100 acres feel they can
not successfully compete in cattle feed
ing with the large farmers, and unques-
tionably, the farmer who has got lot
of Fifty or 100 steers has some marked
advantages in caring for and feeding
them over the man with one, or two,
or half-dozen. The work can often
be done to much better advantage, and
in much less time, in proportion to
nunnbo with tho largo lot. When ready
for market, the owner of the half-dozen
car loads of steers can choose his mar
ket and receive reasonable shipping
rates, while the man with but few is
dependent on his local markets or
neighboring dealers, or, if he attempt
to ship at all, he must pay higher
rate.
But, as in most cases, this question
has two sides. The advantages are not
all in favor of the more extensive
dealer. Very often the stock of the
small farmer will receive better care
and give better return than those in
larger lots. Oftentimes, too, a large
part of what they eat would be wasted
were it not for them. The pasture may
carry the extra steer or two, and yet
give grass enough for the COWS, and so
of the stock field or the hog stock.
What is of even more importance, as
affecting the profit, is that while the la
Dor of feeding the small number may
really be greater in proportion than in
the case of large number, it really is
often done at less cost, because the
work is Just so much done iif addition
TO what would otherwise be accom-
plished. A farmer will add the feeding
of half dozen steers to his usual
"chores," and do the work without
conscious fatigue or loss of time needed
for other labor. The large stock feeder
must "make business" of his work,
either for himself or for a hired la
borer. This has its good results, but it
also causes direct outlay. Another
very important consideration is found
in the fact that the average farmer can
give much better attention in the way
of shelter and protection, and also in
variety of food, to his half dozen steers
thereby securing larger percentage
of gain to food consumed-than is often
lOI IHO SIOdJ MHO
numbers his cattle by the hundreds.
These points, at first flash, may not
seem of Importance, but they are well
worth thinking about by those who
have small places. Observation will
convince us that, in a good many
cases, the reason for superior success
by one such farmer over that reached
by his neighbor is that he is not con-
tent to stop with his ordinary regular
work, but adds to this a number OF lit
tie things, from each of which he
makes some profit
Nor is it always that the home mar
ket is not good one. At the worst, it
is easily reached, and can be watched
so as to receive the benefit of rise in
prices.
The price of half-dOzen good steers
will make a very handsome addition to
the yearly receipts of small farmer,
and in large majority of cases We be-
lieve it will be a considerably larger
sum than would have been obtained
from that part of their food which
would have been sold had the steers
not been kept.-Natio'lGI LiUe Stock
Journal.