Greenbrier independent. [volume] (Lewisburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1859-1980, 1895-04-18
Grazing and Feeding Cattle

SrnLihR and Feeding Cattle.
The following article, taken from
the " West Virginia Farm Reporter''
FOR April, will be read with interest 10y
cattle gra2ers in this section. 1t was
written by Mr.. NJ. =. Farricr, one of
the most prominent and successful
stock men in our county if not in the
State i
Feeding and grazing cattle is bust
ness in which many of our West Vir.
glnla farmers are interested, and hay-
ing an experience of some thirty years
| thought | might give some points
which, if observed, would insure sue
cess.
DO not mean that every year would
be a paying one, but there are more
good years than bad ones, and upon the
whole it is the best business the farmer,
having good grass land, can engage in.
1t is presumed that any one who
aims to fatten cattle has good grass
land. The foundation for success is
laid in buying. | prefer buying what
is known among cattle men as two.
year-olds, if can get them to weigh
from 100 to 200 pounds in October,
and. hope next year to get a lot of Mr..
Swoaps-l ,G0O-pound GalIways.
In buying, | want them well bred of
some beef. producing kind, yet the
short-hOrned are good enough for me,
and for all purposes doubt if we have
any that will beat them. | think it
very important to provide shelter dur
ing the winter. 1t is certainly false
economy not to have it when it can be
provided so cheaply. A good barn to
shelter and feed fifty cattle-hold from
thirty to fifty tons Of hay-can be had
for $3.50, provided you have your own
timber and the horns off your cattle
1t is my opinion that horns on cattle
will soon be thing of the past, and |
think it more cruel not to shelter your
cattle than TO take the horns off, and If
either party has to be indicted for cru.
city to animals let it be the man refus.
ing his cattle shelter.
don't think heavy feeding of grain
in the winter is profitable-only enough
to about hold the order you start in
with. Grain fed on grass will make
double the gain than that fed in cold
weather. like to turn to grass not
later than the 10th of April; then give
all the dry feed they will eat I'M
til the lst of May. Then you car
make 50-cent wheat pay a dollar 10y
selling it and buying bran at ga pei
ton and feeding gallon to the bullock
each day through May and June, as
have made an average gain of $50 lbs
per month on a lot Of cattle, and 20(
pounds on single steer or two, by that
kind of treatment. BE sure and not
stock too heavy, as success depends ell
tirely on good treatment, and should
| you have a surplus of grass in the fal
so much the better. | doubt the pro,
priety of feeding any kind of grain il
July and part of August. The time i!
now at hand to put finish on your cat
tie and make them ready for tn,
| butcher. don't think it can be don,
in any way that will pay as well and de
the job so nicely as feeding green corr
from the field, especially if dry sea
son. | would commence feeding corr
about the Goth of August and feed t
the Goth Of September. If you hav,
handled right the balance of the yea
you now have cattle good enough TO
any market and such as have neve
failed to bring me the top of the New
York market.
| would rather have five acres Of gOOt
corn to finish up fifty cattle than fit,
acres of the best grass in the State
1t will make them all they can eat in
month. At very low estimate yo
will get gain of fifty pounds extra o.
each bullock. That at cents woul
bring 800. This finish will add one
fourth Of a cent on the price Of tn
whole beef, which should weigh fror
800 to | 800 pounds, making $751;
on the former weight added to the e>
ira weight, making S2S7. so for Sl2
worth of corn. The great advantag
in feeding corn in green state i!
there is nothing lost and it will Gel
tainly pay double what it will fed i
any other way.
think stock should have free acces
to salt as they will not take more tina
the system needs. the plan of saltin
once or twice week with bran or me;
mixed is very Objectionable as it tempt
the animal to lick too much salt al
the small quantity of bran or me-
can't possibly do any good.
The whole cattle question is solyt
by having good stock and feeding Ii
orally. Nj. y. FARRIER.
Lewisburg, w. Va.