The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1879-12-11
TOPICS foR THE fxRx.
Pr;nc;nles n Stock Teedinr.-

= fUFICS run sHE yfAH1
Principles of Stock Feeding. NO
4weill defined system of stock manage
ment resting upon the laws of animal
growth and Of the relations of food to
each other in animal nutrition, is in
practice to auy considerable extent in
this country. It's . self-evident state
ment that working in harmony with
law is working to the best advantage.
AS farmers, we are sadly out of har-
mony with the best methods of stock
management, thus coming greatly short
of obtaining the possible effective value
of our foods, Feeding is not as yet
developed science, but q very hopefully
developing one. Closely pressed by
having to compete with the low prices
of prairie steers. the only hope of East
ern feeders lies in the search for, and
observance of the laws that control in
this department. of farm husbandrv.
Allow me then to name few important
points that have Come under my OBJ
servation in experimental feeding for a
fewlyears past. f75-- e9l, s4s
Every reader at once declares that the
matteris is clear--it must be a. steer that
has been we'll bred, that inherits a large
capacity for consumption, digestion and
assimilation of food. 1t is useless to
| attempt to feed any other for profit in
the East. but under the head of g the
steer TO feed wish TO make this point,
resting upon my own observation and
| that Of others: This is the only steer
| that one can afford tn feed high; for,
when fed an increased ration over an
ordinary one, The 'weli-bred steer assim-
| ilates a very much heavier percentage
of this increase than an average steer,
and the poorer steers capacity for as
similation is 10 low that it will not give
a favorable response to heavy ration.
| Our steer must be of the larger
breeds; for rapidly growing. or large
pound of food than one of smaller
breed. A large beef presents less radi-
ating surface in proportion TO weight,
than a small one; thus. in case of the
latter. more food is required, particu-
larry in winter, to maintain the animal
heat. On this head practical expert
ence confirms theoretical considerations
The animal should be early matured,
If ]asteer is sold when Al years of age
l weighing 800 pounds, then his average
weight for his lifetime would have been
not far from 800 pounds. Such an 800
pound steer have fund will consume
IA pounds of hay day as smaintenance
fodder, making no growth Now, the
steer has consuned IA pounds a day fol
A years-how many steers require
years to weigh I600 ponnds-simply to
\ run the machine? 1t is the hay. giver
oyer this amount daily that makes the
growth. Growing our steer toll 500
pounds at u years, will save mainte
nance fodder for two yea IS or, in round
numbers, for two winters, 300 days, We
shall save 2f tons of hay, aswellas two
years pasturing. But again find tha
young animal will make more gain OF
pound Of food than an 'ofder one, thu
making q double gain. 60 Moreover, al
animal when small D. will make very
much more gain than an animal nearl
matured.l The difference is SO great al
to become of much importance. iThi
fact snouid lead us SO to breed as to ge
an animal that will come into shape tt
command full market prices at a much
less weight than that named. Could {
market demand be developed for 800
pound calves, these could be furnished
at profit by the side of Texas steers.
E For generation most of the stock o.
New England has been Kept for the di
rect purpose OF manure-naking, anC
they are yet its cheapest sourc s. Wer,
it not so, in comparatively short timt
there would be but little stock in tn,
East. Yet in feeding, the prime OBJ
ject-the fact that our steers are simply
manure factories lis lost sight of. The
Englishman's first question is: " Wha
is the manure value of the food2" Th.
in buying foods--I buy heavily becaus
1 find it the cheapest means of obtain
ing plant food, and for another object
will name further on Il always con
slider the amount of the elements O
plant food contained IN the propose
purchases. do not say that that shal
, be the sole criterion of purchase, but i
must have q determining recognition
, 1t not unfrequentiy happens that a nj
trogenous food is nearly, or quite wort
its cost as a manure. Intending here
call attention only to prominent point
; in stock management, that. are settle
{ but not accepted generally in practice
l will forego details, and simp say tha
, in praciice'I / can give cOrroborative ev
: dence from my records of the facts her
, stated. .eeA
Chemistry has blundered aroun
badly on the question of the nutritiv
value of foods. as it has on other q ues
. tions in agriculture But the stimulu
/ it has given to, practical investigator
! poin ing to the door; and as an aid t
them, WI result in an immense savin
.. of food values. Pardon me for referrin
r to personal data agai6; such data. how
4 ever, always bear more directly on tn
r point than what one has heard of.
: the result Of three years careful weigl
t ings of food for several, sets of steers,
. am thoroughly convinced that an e.
/ tremely limportantz saving can be mad
n in feeding mixed rations, and that it
{ not enough th at these mixtures be il
/ discriminateiy made. I'm general term
nitr6genous foods should be haixed wit
E carbonaceous: or BRAN, peas, cotton seet
!. oil cake, blood, meat, and clover shoul
r be given In Connection with coars
{ foods, like straw, corn fodder, and swa
/ hay Happily tits the frstpnamed foot
that are rich nimanure-makers, and,
+ using them, we accom- plish two impo
! tant purposes.-J. w. Sdnborn IN Rur
c Neao Yorker. go 's . h-liza
!, Topics for the Household.
'----~ III 4--St isaia-E------.-- 4le J .ta
|