The Caldwell tribune. [volume] (Caldwell, Idaho Territory [Idaho]) 1883-1928, 1885-08-21
FARM MANAGEMENT.
How Cattle and Sheep Can Be Prepared for
the Market at Small Cost-lndus-
trial Notes.
Making the Most of Grass.


large crops of corn are ordinaril
raised the majority of farmers rely o.
it for food to use in fattening all kind
of stock. If animals intended for thu
butcher come through the winter il
poor condition they are likely to re
main so till the corn crop is mature
They are then fed literally till the,
are in condition to send to market.
In many cases they are kept in scanty
pastures that are poorly provided with
shade and water. Often the pastures
are overstocked, and the animals have
not sufficient supply of grass, ever
if the season is favorable to its constant
growth. If it is unfavorable especial
ly If there is a severe and long con.
tinded drought during the warmer
months, the animals are in a poorer
condition in the fall than they were in
the spring. AS food is scanty, they
are obliged to wander about in search
OF it during the entire day. Exposure
to the hot sun makes them tired and
restless at night. They are tormented
BY insects, and often suffer for want
OF cool water. Animals cannot be ex-
pected to thrive under such circum-
stances. In the fall they will be gaunt
and unthrifty, and very large amount
of corn will be required to put them
in condition to bring even medium
prices in any market.
None will question the great value
OF corn in putting cattle, sheep, and
hogs in the proper condition for
Strengthening. 1t is, however, very ex-
pensive food 1t costs a large amount
of money to buy it and much hard
labor to raise it. Meat is always ex-
pensive that is produced wholly or
chiefly by feeding corn. 1t may be
necessary to the production of first
class meat, but the stock-feeder should
study how to use 1T to the best advan-
tage, and how to produce good meat
with the. smallest amount. Animals
should be in good condition in respect
to flesh before corn is afforded.them as
the principal article of food. Unless
they are in such condition they will |
bring little more than enough when |
to pay for the corn they have |
The cornfeld should be
secondary to the pasture in the pro-
duction of meat. The pasture should
furnish fair beef and mutton, and the
,orntield should SO improve them that
hey will rank as prime. Stall feeding
animals is often profitable as the last
'tep in the process of preparing ami
nails for the market, but there should
% several steps in the right direction
before this final one. Cattle and sheep
hould not come up to the feeding
rough in the fall in lean condition.
+ they do they will consume so much
orn as to render their feeding unpro-
table, or will be sent to the market
no condition to bring good prices,
hat are only paid for well-fattened !.
nimals.
All animals intended for the market
the fall or early part of the winter
hould be literally fed during the
ummer.. Grass is not only the cheap
st, but the best, food for them. If
bundant and of good quality it will
lrnish fat as well as flesh. Excellent
eef and mutton have been produced !
y grass alone. Good marketable
GERS and wethers have been taken
lrectly from the pasture to the 1
The pastures, how
yer. were in the best condition in re- :
'ect to the variety ofgrass and clover,
ere well supplied with water and d
lade, and were not overstocked. The g.
'od was so abundant that the animals g
'uld eat their fill during the cooler Q
ours of the morning and could lie in d
e shade in the heat of noon. They II
d not have to travel long distance
procure water or to drink that n
hich was warm and impure. They q
ID a supply of salt within easy reach p
them, and shed or grove to shelter b.
EN- during the prevalence of storms b
severe winds. Ii drought occur o.
d during the time they were kept Sc
the pasture they were supplied with in
ass cut in neighboring field, with pl
I'm fodder, green rye, and daily ii
I'D of some sort of grain. They were
ndered comfortable, and comfort T.
xt to proper food and shelter is es- s.
,tial to the production of flesh and 81
!, as it is to the formation of milk. 81
The summer is the time to fit old Ss
d poor animals for the market. If 81
~ come through the winter in bad 40
ldition special attention should be see
'en to them. Cows that have given 80
Tx through the winter, ews that
ve raised early lambs and are too 90,
to breed again, and wethers whose w w
tn are impaired, should be put into o
good pasture at the earliest day Or
cticable. Grass IS the proper food He
them, and grass at this season of D.
year is superior to that which is ~.
duced later IN the season. 1t is W.. W.,
der and sweet. 1t is easy to crop W., W.
easy to digest. If the pasture pi'
ere the animals are placed that are
ended for the market in the fall .he
8 not produce sufficient grass some Is
uld be cut from an adjoining field Pa,
rider to keep up the proper amount r e'
bod. Every farmer and stock-feeder san
uld decide in the spring what ami GO col
s he has on his place that have In
their best days" and can be dis inu
ed OF to the best advantage. He {
lld then loose no time IN getting the
d in good condition for the mar the
The earlier he begins the smaller roo
be the expense and the better the Sor
Its. If the season is favorable auc
chances are that they NAV be OF
in condition for the market with it
,ther food than that afforded by lare