The Wichita city eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1872-1883, 1881-02-24
PRINCIPALS IN STOCK RAISING.

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this country. II is 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 hest methods Of stock
management, thus coming greatly
short of obtaining the possible effect
i've value of our foods. Feeding is not
as yet a developed science, hut very
hopeful developing one. Closely press
cd by having to compete with the low
prices Of prairie steers, the only hope
Of Eastern feeders lies in the search
| for, and observance of, the laws that
control in this department Of farm hus-
bandry. Allow, me then, to name a
few important points, that have come
under my observation in experimental
feeding for few years past.
THE STEER 10 FEED.
Every reader at once declares that
the matter is clear-it must be a steer
that has been well bred, that inhcrits
large capacity for consumption, d.
digestion and assimilation of food. 1t
is useless to attempt to feed any other
for profit in the East, but under the
head of the steer TO feed, wish to
make this point, resting upon my own
| observation and that of others: This
is the only steer that Que can afford to
feed high; for, when fed an increased
ration over an ordinary one, the WELL
bred steer assimilates very much
heavier percentage of this increase than
an average steer, aud the poorer steers
capacity for assimilation is so low,
that it will not give a favorable re-
Spouse to heavy ration. az !.
LARGE BREEDS.
Onr steer must be Of the larger
breeds /; for a rapidly growing or u
large animal will make more growth
on a pound of food than one of a small
er breed. A large beast presents less
radiating surface in proportion than a
small one. Thus, in case of the latter,
more food is required particularly in
winter, to maintain the animal heat.
On this head practical experience con-
firms theoretical considerations. The
animal should be early matured. If
a steer is sold when fOnr and one half
years Of age, weighing 600 pounds,
then his average weight for his lifetime
would lave not been far from 800
pounds. Such an 800 pound steer /
have found will consume fourteen
pounds ofhay day, as maintenance
fodder, making no growth. Now the
steer has consumed fourteen pounds a
day, for four years to weigh 1000
pounds-simply to run the machine.
1t is the hay given over this amount
daily that makes the growth. Grow
ing our steer TO ], 900 pounds at tive
and onc:half years save maintenance
fodder for two years: or in round
numbers, for TWO winters, or $50 days
W. shall save two and one quarter
tons of hay as well rs two years past
urage. But again, find that a young
ANNA! will make more gain ON a pound
of food than an older animal thus max
ing double gain. Moreover an ami
NAL when small will make very much
more gain than an animal nearly ma
turcd. The difference is so great as to
become of much Importance. This fact
should lead us SO to breed as to get an
animal that will come into shape 10
command full market prices at a much
less weight than that named. Could a
market demand be developed for 800
pound calves these could be furnished
at profit by the side of Texas steers.
FEED FOR MANURE.
Unhappily most farmers consider this
heading as a part of another question.
1t is, however inseparably connected
with the entire system of mixed farm
ing with us. For generation most
of the stock Of New England has been
kept for the direct purpose of manure
making. and they are yet its cheapest
sources. We're it not SO, in a short
time there would be but very little stock
in the East. Yet in feeding. the prime
objcct-the fact that our steers are SIM
ply manure manufactories-is lost
sight of. The Englislmens first quest
ion is "What is manure value Of
the food?" Then in buying foods !
buy heavily because find it the cheap
means ofobtainins plant food, and for
another object will name further OH
l always consider the amount Of the
elements Of plant contained in the pro-
posed purchase. do not say that that
shall be the sole criterion of purchase.
but il must have a determined recog-
milton. 1t not unfrcqucntly happens
that nitso genous food is nearly or
quite. worth is cost, as u manure. In
tending here TO call attention only to
prominent points in stock management
that are settled but not accepted gen.
orally in practice, will forego details,
and simply say that in practice | can
give corroborative evidence from INV
records of tine facts here stated.
COMBINATION or FOODS.
Chemistry has hundred around badly
on the question Of the nutritivc value
OF foods, as il has no other questions of
agriculture. Bnt the stimulus it has
TO practical investigators, pointing TO
the door and as aid to them will result
in an immense saving Of food values. |
Pardon me for referring TO personal |
data again such data. however always |
bear more directly on the point than |
what one has heard of. As the result |
Of three years careful weighings offood
for several sets Of steers. am thorough
IS convinced that an extremely iulpor-
liant saving can be made in feeding
mixed rations and that it is no enough
hat these mixtures be Unfortunately 1
made. In general terms heterogeneous
'oods should be mixed with carbonac G.
rue or bran, peas, cotton seed, oil cake,
blood, meat and clover should be given
n connection with coarse f,ods, like
traw. corn fodder and swale hay.
r..:t,- :. = ,l,o e.. ca,no<1 f.,o,1s that