The Kimball graphic. (Kimball, Brule County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1905, 1885-08-07
FARM
How Cattle and Sheep Can Be Prepared for
the Market at a Small Cost-Indus.
trial Notes.
Making the Most of Grass.

N ctahluS AN 2AVsl q 1 uIdSS. r
In the portions of the west where
large crops of corn are ordinarily
rsised the majority of farmers rely on
it for food to use in fattenlng all kinds
of stock. If animals intended for the
butcher come through the winter in
poor condition they are likely to re-
main SO till the corn crop is mature.
They are then fed literally till they
are in a condition to send to market.
In many eases they are kept in scanty
pastures thar are poorly provided with
shade and water. Often the pastures
are overstocked, and the animals have
not a sufficient supply of grass, even
if the eason is favorable to it's constant
growth. II it is unfavorable especial
ly if there is a we're and long con-
tinued 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 sucl, circum.
stances. In the fall they will be gauut
and unthriftv, and very large amount
of corn will be required to put them
in q 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-
pensire food. 1t costs Il 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 III 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
fattened to pay for the corn they have
consumed. The corntield should be
secondary to the pasture in the pro-
duction of meat. The pasture should
furnish fair beef and mutton, and the
corntield should so improve them that
they will rankas prime, Stall feeding
ANIMALS is often profitable as the last
step IN the process of preparing ami
mails for the market, bat there Should
be several steps in the right direction
before this final one. Cattle and sheep
should not come up to the feeding
trough in the fall in a lean condition.
Ii they do they will consume so much
corn as to render their feeding unpro-
iitable, or will be sen to the market
in no condition to bring good prices.
that are only paid for w~ell-fattened
animals.
All animals intended for the market
in the fall or early part of the winter
should be literally fed during the
summer. Grass is not only the cheap
est, but the best, food for them. If
abundant and of good quality it will
furnish fat as well as flesh. Excellent
beef and mutton have been produced
by grass alone. Good marketable
steers and wethers have been taken
directly from the pasture to the
slaughrer-house. The pastures. how
ever, were in the best condition in re-
spect to the variety of grass and clover,
We're well supplied with water and
shade. and were not overstocked. The
food was SO abundant that the animals
could eat their fill during the cooler
hours OF the morning and could lie in
the shade in the heat of noon. They
did not have to travel q long distance
to procure water o to drink that
which was warm and impure. They
had a supply of salt within easy reach
of them, and shed or grove to shelter
them during the prevalence of storms
or severe winds. Ii a drought occur
red during the time they weres kept
in the pasture they We're supplied with
grass cut in u neighboring field. with
corn fodder, green rye, and a daily
feed of some sort of grain. They were
rendered comfortable, and comfort
mex to proper food and shelter is es-
sential to the production of flesh and
fat. as it is to the formation Of milk.
The summer is the time to tit old
and poor animals for the market. If
they come through the winter in bad
condition special attention should be
given to them. Cows that have given
milk through the winter, ews that
have raised early lambs and are toe
old to breed again. and wetIers whose
teeth are impaired, should be put into
a good pasture ut the earliest day
practicable. Grass Is the proper food
for them, and rass at this season of
the year is superior to that which is
produced later IN the season. 1t is
tender and sweet. 1t is easy to crop
and easy to digest. If the pasture
where the animals are placed that are
intended for the market in the fall
does not produce sufficient grass some
should be cut from an adjoining field
IN order to keep up the proper amount
oftood. Every farmer and stock-feeder
should decide in the spring what ami
mails he has on his place that have
seen their best days and can be dis
posed OF to the best advantage. He
should then loose nc time IN getting
them in good condition for the mar
ket. The earlier he begins the smaller
will be the expense and the better the
results. If the season is favorable
the chances are that they may be
put in condition for the market with
out other food than that afforded by
the pasture where they are kept
Chicago Times.
Industrial Brevities.
As early as 1917 tobacco was raised
III Virginia. and the price was fixed by
the governor 1T 8 shillings per pound.
Four Years later it figured as IN article
OF export, $1,000 pounds having been
sent to Holland in 1921, The yield
had become so plentiful in 1859 that
the price was , pence per pound. In