The Colfax chronicle. [volume] (Colfax, Grant Parish, La.) 1877-1981, 1897-08-28
FARMER ANDPLANTER.
THE MODERN STOCK. FARM.

Successful Stocking Raising.
The stock farm should be founded
with reference to its surroundings In
addition to this, climate should be con-
sidered Of great Importance. There is
loss in the production of meats, wool,
dairy and poultry products If one must
contend with severe cold weather dur
ing many weeks of the year. As dull
hs are the times in late years the live
stock growers in the milder climates
of Missouri, Kansas, Colorado, Texas
and other places of similar latitude
have found profit because of favorable
winters. In more northern ldtitudes.1
1t has been as often the rule that loss
would occur throughout season as
gain, because of the severity of winter.
Next to the Importance of climate is
to be considered the value of grazing
lands. In what we may term the older
states rough hills and timber lands
are often considered as good only for
pasturage. When such lands can be
bought at nominal rates and cleared SO
that the sunshine will bring forth
the best quality of grass, when the
soil is right, the owner OF such
LAID, in the right management OF live
stock. should find good returns for his
pains. Many stockmen, however, have
been slow to realize that they must
look for profit mainly in the cheaper
grades of food, such as grazing, hay
straw and corn fodder. Along with
this, the labor required must be the
smallest amount possible. II help Is
hired, one strong man should usually
take care of from 90 to 100 cattle in
winter. Along with the cattle should
be good number of hogs and in some
instances a moderate flock of sheep
may be carried to advantage, making
triple combination.
Where the cattle are being fattened
to finish and have delicate taste for
the provender and will select only a
small amount of roughness offered
them, sheep may be allowed to CLEAN
after them, provided there is care to
prevent the odor of the wool from af-
fecting the feeding grounds OF the cat
tie. To guard against this trouble,
the fodder may be either handled
second time and thrown into the sheep
yards, or in the case of long-wooled
sheep, they may be permitted to CLEAN
| in the cattle yards for but an hour
when they should be turned out before
! they are inclined to lie down, and by a
prolonged stay affect the grounds and
refuse of the fodder.
The greatest fault on the average is
| To- fn1
Many proprietors expect definite
number of acres to support certain
| number of animals, regardless OF
the grass which may grow upon
the land. In some seasons there is an
abundance, and in other seasons scarce
ly half as much. Many farmers are
not observant of the fact that when
there is scant grass their animals
scarcely gain a pound in weight dur
ing a season. They also fail to realize
that by a hating condition of growth
through both winter and summer
their animals come to be only OF the
commonest variety and command only
ordinary prices. The stunting OF thu
growth for a year makes it impossible
for new system of bounteous feeding
to make the growth and gain in fest
which is desirable. Where one has
very cheap grazing and hay lands, it i
at times advisable to depend entirely
on such provender for the growth ant
finish of cattle, horses and sheep TO
the last two-thirds of the life of tn
various animals. Where the climate i
mild, permitting grazing almost entire
ly Throughout the winter, hay ant
other provendeas should be furnishes
to the older animals only in such al
emergency as a deep snow or som
other insurmountable difficulty.
One who is inexperienced in winte
grazing, will be surprised after care
full observation of such practice, t
note how well the animals will SUI
vive where there has been good rain
during the summer and autumn sea
sons to cause rank growth for win
ter's supply. 1t is of course not res
sonable to expect live stock upon tn
same limited grounds in winter as the
were confined to during the summe
and autumn. The successful stockma
will provide, as rule, for three diffel
emit grazing fields for his herd through
out the year. Timothy, clover and a
falfa, according to the soil, or otht
, substitutes, will be provided for tn
principal summer ration. Blue gras
rye, oats, millet, etc, will be depende
. upon for late autumn and early sprin
.. feeding. If possible, the best biz
grass will be reserved for the vii
ter months. If it is permitted
grow up rank, during the pr
vIous autumn months so that it fal
down in its profusion, this will large
.. protect the latest growth of the blad
and furnish an attractive diet In mi
winter which moderate SHOWS will n
cover with serious results.
Wherever there are natural win
breaks, prudent thought will preser
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