The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1894-01-26
PROPER AGE TO FATTEN STOCK
Discussion by the Deer Creek Farmer
FIuh


Club.
Reported for The Egs and Intelligencer.
The Deer Creek Farmers Club met at the
'.Big Woods" the residence of John Moores,
on Saturday, January Goth, al 5o'clock, 2. NJ.
Present, besides the host, Messrs. j. W.
Hanna, R. F. Hanna, T. E. Swartz, w. B.
Hopkins, w. D. Lee, B. H. Barnes, John B.
Wysong, E. P. Moores, Thomas Lochary, w.
Beatty Harlan, John Webster, 5. A. Williams
and R. Harris Archer, active members visitors
Mr. L. B. Wright, of Connecticut, and Mr..
s. VI. Lee.
Mr.. Smith, the President, being absent, Mr.
James w. Hanna was called to the chair and
appointed the following a committee of inves-
CATION of the farm, buildings &C., Messrs.
Lochary, Hanna and Archer.
This committee, after markings very careful
examination, on returning to the house made
the following report:
Mr. Lochary said he had noticed while rid
ing along the road which runs by Mr. Moores'
farm how clean all the fence rows are and
the fences in good order. The grass fields
look green, which proves they have good
sod on them. Wheat looks fine, the ground
had been well prepared saw pen of about a
dozen shoats, about five months old. which
said he would kill them III few days. His
stock cattle have fine coat of hair, which
shows they are doing well. They have plenty
of fodder and straw, and comfortable yard
to stay in at night Part of the cattle are i'll the
stable getting some meal. His COWS and
Young stock appear well cared for.
Mr. Lochary said he had often heard of
things looking pretty as pictures, but seldom
ever realized it, but in the case of Mr.. Noores'
Shropshire sheep they are truly pretty as
any picture he ever saw of any kind of sheep.
He doubted if their equal could be found in
the State. Mr.. Moores seemed to have plenty
of feed of all kinds for all his stock.
Mr. Archer, who made the critical exa nina
ton, said if man was in debt or from other
known causes was unable to make needed i'm
provements, he would say nothing about
them. but in the case of Mr.. Moores such was
not the case, and he did not deserve any
mercy. lie well remembered when Mr..
Moores built his house and outbuildngs
(about so years ago. and he knew the house
has not had any paint on it since it was built
In fact all of the outbuildings, from the house
down to the hog house, need paint or white
wash. He noticed some chickens roosting in
the stables, which ought not to be allowed
In front of his door he made a pile out of flint
stones, and he would advise him to break
them up a little smaller.
Mr.. Moores said he went to a great trouble
to get those stones and left them large on pur-
pose, SO they would shine on dark nights. II
they were any smaller they would get buried
| and would not shine He noticed some one
had stopped the water course in the public
road, which runs under the fence and made
the road muddy.
The subject selected for discussion was
s'The proper age to fatten stock for the mar
ketn
John Moores said what we want are practi-
cal observations. So far as growth is consid-
cred, it is about the same in cattle from birth
to one year; from one year to two years and
from two years to three years, and after three
years neither growth nor fat will increase so
much. He thought that taking growth and
fat together they would be greatest from two
to three years; consequently it is the best and
wisest for farmer to buy his cattle at two
years old, weighing say $50 to 500 lbs, and
keep them II months. They should put on
500 lbs. He has done it frequently in fact is
disappointed if he does not. Feeds them
short corn in the fall, when he buys them,
and again the next fall. before he sells them
There is more profit in a hog before he is 6
months old than afterwards. You can have
him fat by that time.
VIM. b. Hopkins thought more weight can
be put on a steer from birth to Is months than
any time afterwards, although he buys his
stock cattle at and sells at 3 years. 400 lbs
is all he can get in that time. 1t won't pay
to stable cattle unless you get an advance of
II cents per pound.
T. Z. Swartz puts on from 400 to 500 lbs. on
each steer; age 2 to years. Feeds little
bran and meal together with hay and fodder.
5. NJ Lee has made more weight from less
feed while under years sells when q years
old Hogs to months.
Thomas Lochary would buy cattle to fatten
in the stable not less than 3 years old. If
you raise calves force them all you can from
the very start and sell at years old. The
value Of manure from stabbed cattle would be
about IS per steer during the winter
Vim. ID. Lee has no positive rule, but sells
stock of all kinds when young, if he can get a
fair offer.
r. F. Hanna has had no experience in cattle
Hogs for market he would have ready to sell
at from to months old For his own use
prefers them IL months old. There is more
money in lambs than in sheep.
John Webster agreed with Mr.. Lochary
There is more money in sheep than in hogs,
except for the dogs. 1t don't pay to hold
hogs long, except for your own use.
John B. Wysong thought the per centage
greater on all stock when young, especially
hogs.
W. Beatty Harlan always aims to buy
stock cattle that will weigh 800 lbs, although
very often they only weigh 500. Had al
ways heard that year olds would fatten
better than 2 year olds, and believes it correct
Has put on as much as 597 lbs This year not
quite 400 lbs. Mr.. Harlan asked about the
comparative value of stable and barriyard
manure. Some said as l to 2, and some to g.
Likes spring pigs to pack in the fall.
E. P. Moores said that if cattle are kept in
stables they should be q to 8 years if out,
from 2 to q years. 1t would pay some farm :
ers to raise calves but don't pay to winter
hogs in close pen. Ii you do you must give
them all they can eat.
l.. B. Wright said down East n farmer Away
puts on hog lib. each day from birth until
9 months old, and then kills him. He likes
to feed steer from years old until 4. Then
he is chin ripe and ready for the market at the
very highest price. Mr.. Wright then gave Il
very interesting talk on the wonderful i'm
provement in farming operations since he
was young man aud swinging the scythe.
The advantage of a farmers life, dependent
upon no body's beck and CALL as he is now.
B. H. Barnes.-At present prices there is no
money in raising calves. Better sell them
from the cows. He feeds cattle for market at
years old. Pigs should come in the spring
and be killed the next fall. We had better
raise our own cows. There is more money in
colts than calves.
R. H. Archer-The sooner you can get your
money out of stock of all kinds the better
no matter how young.
Mr.. Hanna 1.-THE President. "A steer should
be ripe before he is butchered. There is more
money ip hogs at Is months than at 6 months