The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1889-01-30
ECONOMY IN FEEDING.
Various Ways in Which Owners of Stool
Can Save Money.

various ways Ill ShiSh C""o'' VI ''
Can Save Money.
Not every farmer attaches the proper
meaning to feed with economy. The
idea with some, judging from the ap-
pearance of their cattle, is that econo-
my consists in getting their stock
through the winter on the least food
possible, without regard to their
growth meantime or their condition in
the spring. The few dollars saved in
the quantity of food consumed may be
lost many times over by this method
for it is much less expensive, as has
often been stated heretofore, to pre-
serve the flesh that has been put on,
than to replace the weight after it has
been lost for lack of sufficient food
aad care. Some regard it as economy
to leave the stock to depend
on what can be got from the
meadows for weeks, after heavy
frosts have taken nourishment
from the grass and cut short
it's growth. This is poor economy in
two ways, for not only does the stock
lose flesh, but the meadows are injured
bv having the grass eaten off so close
that the roots are unprotected during
the winter, and having been injured,
the next seasons yield is reduced.
There is more money lost in this way
by many a farmer than he has any
idea of.
Another way in which it is quite
commonly seen that money is lost in
feed ing, is by throwing the hay, and
the grain, too, in many cases. on the
ground. Much corn is left uneaten by
the cattle, either because of the mud
and filth on it, or on account OF its
shelling off so they can not gather it
I'D. Where hogs are kept in the same
wards some of the waste is
prevented, but it is better econ
omy to feed in troughs and
racks where the cattle can eat up clean
what is given them. In some sections
it may be considered that the value Of
hay and grain will not warrant the
outlay required to provide better feed
ing facilities, hNt such cases are only
the exceptions to the rule that money
is lost by wasting food.
There is no question that cattle con
sumo less food when provided witt
,, comfortable quarters in stables, TO-
then less is required to keep up bodil.
warmth, and a larger proportion o
:, food goes to make growth and flesh
! There are some cattlemen who CLAIM
that their cattle have done better whe1
=, allowed to remain in yards pro
tected only by open sheds
the idea being that cattl
under such conditions are NOR
healthy and vigorous that when cor
fined in stables, where they do nc
,, have the same fresh air and abundan
:, exercise. Under such circumstance
:, it is not usual to find that a corree
estimate of the value of the food cor
;, sumed can be formed, and this lacking
. the comparative expense can not b
# correctly ascertained. While in ovel
9 crowded, badly-ventilated quarter
y, cattle will not thrive so we'll, it ca
4 hardly be justly claimed that in wei
arranged stables where the stock hi
an abundance of light and fresh a
# and an opportunity for daily exercis
=, they will be less healthy than whe
=, protected from storms and cold on
Is by open shed or stacks. Tho'
- who have tried the two plans me-
# toned, in a systematic way, could i
10 terest many in the same line OF bus
y ness by giving a detailed account
y their experience, with the conclus iol
70 arrived at.
~ There is money to be made, too,
y the way the cattle are fed, as this r
~ lates to the kind of food or combin
10 lions of it to produce the best result
7s Much fodder and hay is wasted on tt
II farm, that if cut up and mixed wi
-, bran or meal or oil cake would
:, y eaten readily, and go far toward ma
ing up the quantity required to car
y, the herd through the winter in go
s condition. National Livestock Jot
o nal.