The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1884-12-12
Foon FOR STOCK.

paid little attention to the kind of food
that was furnished it. They sought to
raise rs many animals as possible, and
gave preference to the kind of stock tina,
could be produced with the least trouble
and expense. During the months that
the food was out of the ground cattle
and sheep were expected to get their
living in pastures. They were turned
out early in the spring and taken up
late in the fall. IL was not expected
that they would gain in weight or con-
dition between the months of October
and April. If the feed in the pastures
was good and they were not over
stocked the grazing animals were ex-
pee;ed TO gain from April to October.
If. however, there was a protracted
drought it was presumed that they
woald simply ..hold their own if they
did not fall off in condition. Many
farmers appeared to think that the
object of feeding animals was TO sus-
tai1. life. Cattle were kept year after
yer without having their weight or
market value increased. The sub
ject of early maturity received
little or no attention. Grazing ami
mails were restricted to grass in the
summer and to hay in the winter.
They were generally allowed straw and
corn fodder, not with a view of afford
ing change of diet, but because it was
found desirable TO get these articles out
of Che way. As a rule, no grain that
was. fit for the market was fed to cattle
and sheep. Some farmers raised roots
for animals with view of keeping q
large number. In the Southern States
grazing animals We're expected 'to pick
up most of their living during the en-
tire year. Even hogs were driven into
the forests with a view of having them
subsist on green vegetables, vermin,
and mast. Very little attention was
pail to providing suitable food for
other farm animals than cows that were
giving milk and horses and mules that
were kept constantly at work. Giving
grain and other harvested food to mich
cows when the feed in pastures was
short in the summer was almost I'M
known. They were expected to cease
to give much milk if the grass in pas
tur,s was deficient.
Recently a great change has oc-
CURED in the manner of supplying food
to farm animals Dairy farmers no
longer expect to have the amount of
milk given by COWS governed by the
SUPPLY of feed in the pastures. They
do not depend on grass alone to fur
nisj food during the summer season.
They raise several forage crops that
mature at different times. They have
them in readiness in case the pastures
do not afford much grass. They give
grain to cows that are MIXED as regu-
larly as they do horses that are at
work. They by these means render
the production of milk a certainty. In
telligent farmers no longer postpone
the liberal feeding of animals intended
for meat till within a few months of the
time when they are to be slaughtered.
It has been found more economical to
keep them constantly in good condi-
ton as regards flesh than to allow them
to become very poor, and then TO at
tempt 10 cover moving skeleton with
flesh and fat Farmers have diScov-
cred the advantages of early maturity.
They have found out that liberal feed
ing will produce as heavy a steer at
three years Of age as scant feedingdoes
at six wears. They want quick returns
All are convinced that young animals
gain in weight much faster than old
ones, and that their meat is preferable.
Some feeders now object to the
name stale cattle They state
that the animals they keep
are at all times being prepared for the
market. Their fa;tening process is rot
confined TO a few Weeks before slaugh-
tering. The most Successful pork-rais-
ers now feed their hogs literally during
all stages of their growth. They may
not allow them to become very fat dur
ing hot weather, but they supply them
liberally with the kind of food that viii
produce flesh. Even sheep-raisers who
have no other object than the produc-
ion of wool have come 10 the conclu-
sion that liberal feeding is economical,
They have noticed that the quality as
well as the amount of wool depends
chiefly on the kind and amount OF food
the sheep receive. The microscope has
shown to many of them the diminished
SIZE of tibers OF wool that grew during
protracted drought or 4 severe storm
when sufficient and suitable food was
not provided.
All keepers of stock have at last been
convinced of the ACCESSIBILITY of liberal
feeding. Many are giving their atten-
ton TO the matter of making food more
agreeable to the taste of animals, More
a. l. -.NA hn
and storage of hay. A greater variety
of grasses and clovers are sown in
pastures, so as to furnish change OF
food dur.ag the season when il is the
most abundant. Many feeders furnish
Eleal. m;llstuffs, and other dry food to
their animals during the summer, for
the reason that they afford an agree
able change when green grass is the
principal food. The silo has been in
PRODUCED in many places. not so much
in the belief that silage is greatly pref
cradle to hay rs a general food for ami
mails during. cold weather, as that g
succulent fuod is wanted for 4 change
when they are kept for the most part
on dry hay. straw and meal Those
who claim no superiority for silace |
over dry fodder believe that it is very
desirable as affording an agreeable |
variety Some expect that its judicions
Use in connection with hay and grain |
may reselt in causing animals TO gain |
rs fast in winter as in summer, proyiG- !
ing they are well sheltered. Many |
careful feeders are raising roots I
for animals, not because their flesh and |
fat-producing value is very large. but |
for the reason that they increase the |
appetite and aid in digestion. They |