Barbour County index. [volume] (Medicine Lodge, Kan.) 1880-current, 1883-05-04
Bone and Muscle Forming Foods.

In the selection of foods the prevalent
idea, we think, is to get something that
Will produce fat. If the food is of
character that will keep the animal in
"good ORDER" the very general con-
clusion is that the demands of the ami
NAL system are satisfied. But the ele-
ments that produce fat will not produce
bone and muscle; and if our notion of
building is to erect beautiful structure
without any frame work, we shall be
taught our mistake by the collapse of
the fabric. The first and most impor-
tant thing to do is to keep the frame i'm
perfect condition. But so common is
this idea of getting something that will
make fat, that nearly all the inquiries
in regard to linsecd meal are prompted
by an estimate of its fat-giying ele-
ments; and when some are told that its
value is in proportion to its lack of fat
producing properties, it loses all interest
to them. Taking the entire class of feed
erS, experienced and inexperienced, the
thoughtful and the thoughtless, corn will
be pronounced the best feeding material
that can be obtained. This is both true
and untrue, its truth depending upon
the special object of feeding. For fat
tening purposes it is the best When
the animal has. been fully developed,
and is prepared for the quick forcing
process of laying on fat, corn is pre-
eminently the thing. But it is a one
sided food. 1t will not furnish sufii-
cient food for the bone and muscle
Milk is a perfect food for young ami
mails. Why? Because it contains ev-
cry element that the animal system re-
quires. And when the animal arrives
at an age when food more concentrated
than milk is required, the food must
contain the elements which milk con-
tains in sufficient quantities to supply
the continual waste. Hence the use
fulneSs as feeding stuffs of much on
the farm that, in times when the science
in feeding was less understood than it
is now, was permitted to go to waste,
or at best considered rs sort of
nuisance. We can remember when
wheat middlings-" shorts were not
deemed of much value-hardly valu-
able enough to be carted home
from the mill. But the studi-
Gus feeder thinks that he has
now learned their value. though if
he were not mistaken, he would eat
them himself, for they contain more
nutrition than the flour which he uses
for himself. But he has learned that at
least they are good for his stock. In
what respect? They contain a large
amount of protein elements, and thus
are valuable for all kinds of stock, a
statement of which an inquirer upon
the subject will please take notice. They
are not the food which is to be relied
upon for the production of milk in cows,
or of fat in fattening animals, but they
will build up, or keep in repair, the
framework. hence aiding in the har-
monious development of the system and
in conducting TO perfect health. Oats
are, also, of this character, and in con-
sequence prove so very valuable as
general food for horses. Wheat bran
belongs to the same catalogue. As to
buckwheat bran-cOncerning which we
have an inquiry-we do not regard it as
valuable at ALL 1t is fair to say that
some have informed us that it will in
crease the flow of milk, but so far as
our experience goes, we are compelled
to say that we never saw any stock that
would eat it. 1t doubtless has some
nutriment in it, but just what its COM
position is, we do not know Western
Rurdl.