The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1896-04-25
STOCK i.

1t is doubtful il any variety of sheep
is more profitable to the general farmer
or has made more money for him in the
past. than the old fashioned American
merino. This breed. developed from the
Spanish merino, has been 30 improved
by careful work that it is now thorough
ly adapted to our climate, and we'll
suited to the needs of the sheep raisers,
There is such thing as feeding lambs
and ewes either for wool or mutton. If
for wool only, a pasture diet is generally
sufficient; but when for mutton or an in
crease in the wool, grain is essential.
For good mutton both ewes and lambs
need grain food. There is good mix
ture in corn meal and fax seed oil meal.
1t is sometimes easier to find buyer
than it is to close sale with him. Too
many mistakes are made right there.
The seller forgets that he wants to sell,
and sees only an opportunity to raise
the price just little, and he loses
customer and sale. For the sake of
few dollars he keeps his horse or his cow
another year.
Sell when ready. 1t never behooves
us to work ourselves up to point where
we think an animal will bring more
money by keeping it awhile. The feed,
time and care given to other stock will
make up the difference. At a later date
we are apt to take less price than we
were formerly offered.
We should be careful not to overstock
pastures. If young and growing ami
mails are kept poor part Of the year,
they will hardly thrive during the rest,
nor will they ever attain their proper
proportion and size; yet young animals
may be fed on coarse and succulent food
and they will do better than those which
are Of maturer age and more capable of
being fattened.
Every wise cattle dealer is trying to
improve his stock-is trying to grade up;
| but all are not wise in their methods, for
some are trying to do it with grade bulls.
This process is not only too slow to be
Of profit. but is unsatisfactory in it's
final results. Do not try it. Too often
the progress is downward.
Judging from evidences in sight, one
would think fair managers considered
cattle business as rather small potatoes.
Notice the difference in the value of
premiums offered upon bulls and upon
stations. Is the term agricultural fair"
althogether a misnomer? 1t is the
racer and not the farm products which
carries away the purses.
A very large amount of roughness can
be used when feeding cattle for growth,
and the cost much reduced in this way;
but when feeding for flesh the rations
must consist largely of grains, and grains
the richest good health will permit. In
either case care must be used to main
tain steady gain.
How large silo to build for the stock?
Allow one foot of settled silage for each
animal every day, and figure on a feed
ing season of no fewer than $50 days. 1t
is not safe to count less than % per cent.
for settling in bulk, after the silo is filed.
This rule for building a silo is very
| good one.
A stock grower. in particular, win
find that between fair and best may lie
all the difference between profit and loss.
Get on the right side of this question, or
get left" Whatever branch OF farming
it is in which we engage. we should
make up our minds to our very best.
The Indifferent worker never succeeds
in this day OF competition.