The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1883-12-19
Cutting Feed tor stock.
PHILADELPHIA Record


Of the many kinds OF grain and vegetables
grown ON farms but few used principally
Tor feeding TO stock In addition to that which
Is grown Tor sale there are large quantities of
valuable material wasted for want OF proper
preparation in order to vert il in to palat-
able food. At this season the importance OF a
constant use OF the fodder cutter can not he
too strongly urged 1t is unnecessary to
state that the feeding value OF the best hay
can be increased by cutting il, which
not be denied; but it is well to direct
attention TO the savings that may be
secured by making use vi such materials
a. cornstalks. straw, etc. Cornsta,ks
barnyard 10 be wasted, for after the cattle
have finished their search for whatever avail
able fodder there may be upon them they are
tTampled under foot. No doubt when thrown
into the yards the object is partially TO con
vert them INTO manure, which is proper
enough; but the most economical method of
making manure from feeding material is to
pass it through the body OF the animal,
where 1t not only assists in producing a GER
tain amount of flesh but becomes more suit
able Tor manurlal purposes than when lett to
rot in the entire state Straw which is used
for bedding makes excellent food when fine
ly cut and mixed with proportion Of hay,
to which ground grain or oil cake is added
The straw. being in a fine condition. Is easily
mixed TO suit the most faStidiOuS animal,
and though not possessing a high nutri-
tive value. ii is valuable to a certain extent
and should be utilized TO the best advantage.
Cornstalks. if passed through a cutter that
brushes the pieces they are cut become
valuable for feeding to all kinds of stock ex-
eept hogs. When 50 prepared the difficulty
OF mastication Is removed. the animals are
easily fed in the stalls, and no waste OF ma
terial occurs.
Cornstalks and straw have a certain value
for feeding purposes, although not equal to
hay, and experiments have demonstrated
that animals can be as easily wintered upon
such focd as upon hay. provided sufficient
amount OF ultrOgenous matter, in the shape
of more concentrated food. Dc supplied To
furnish the deficiencies of the coarser matter
BY the use OF the cutter, the labor Of which
can be done az this season. when work on
the farm Is not pressing the value of all
kinds OF bulky food may be increased over
20 per cent, and the demand tor concen-
irated food Will be leSsened for each animal
by the conversion OF useless material in to
available food.
While the cutter is valuable in preparing
the food before il Is consumed it also makes
the manure oil better quality. for the ml-
nure IS ALWAYS fine and easy Of application
when stock are led on cut food. There is
cutie saving OF time in applying fine ma
nuTe as compared with the handling OF
coarse cOrastalks and straw that have had no
opportunity to thoroughly decompose; and
such manure, when exposed 10 heat, moist
IRE and air, after application becomes quick
y rOtted and disintegrated while coarser
material, when exposed in the same man
ner, sometimes requires two seasons before
il is appropriated by crops. Fodder cutters
may run by horse or steam DOW though hand
cutters are mostly used, and, If worked at
times during which 10 other work is availa-
bic. may be managed as to avoid extra
labor Wet weather is sometimes a loss OF
time on many farms, aud good fodder cut
Ter can be prOftably employed on such oc-
cssiOns. But. with all that may be claimed
IN the economy OF labor, il is a small item
compared with the saving and utiliza. Zion OF
large quantities OF materia! by converting
IL into food for stock and rendering it more
suitable for IDanurial purposes.