The state herald., 1898-03-18
SBw METHOD OF cAriu FEEDING.

experiments for two yeaIp at tho Union
Real Estate Live Stock Investment Com.
pany's ranch at Gressiand, Douglas
county, Of which he II uDauagsr, which
have demonstrated that Colorado farmer
can fatten cattle on feed raised on theil
own land, that will brias higher price,
or the market than the best Nebrasks
or Kansas corn fed bsei. He has proven
also that there 10 good profit In ths
business for the ranchms1.
When asked to suese~.s rome new way
OF adding to the prosperit, OF Colorado
Mr.. Sheedy said: "Thsrs is rare op.
portunity for Colorado farmers to make
money IN cattle feeding. Let them use
ensilaRe, sugar bsets, potatoes, small
grain and hay, and they will produce
liner beef at lower cost than feeders
who use corn. as 1t requires less time to
mature the cattle than 1t does With corn
feeding. In the fall Of 1896 the company
fed sixty head 8 and 4-year old steers
We fed them fifty days on enailage. po-
tatoes and hay. They made q gnin Of
over 200 pounds 20 the steer. We fed
them on that feed three times day af-
ter the first ten days, and they took the
premium and were sold for choice Christ.
mas cattle Of 1896. The feed was all
raised on the ranch without irrigation.
The eDsilage Is made from corn not Who'll
ly matured, but which has formed in the
cur and ia in the milk We cut the stalk
close to the ground, chop up the ears
and stalk together and put the mixture
in the sllo where it fermcnts. The silo
is n tightly boarded yaulthke house
partly under ground.
"Last year we did rot feed potatoes.
Last September we put up 1000 tons Of
ensilaPe and raised about twenty five
acres OF sugar bcets, getting from zen to
twelve tons TO the acre. We fed 900 head
Of . and 3year-old steers for the market.
The feed consisted Of ensilago, sugar
beets, rye meal and common prairie hay
They gained from 3 to 3 pounds per head
per day. We have sold l6J head, which
brought the highest price of the season
in the Denver market. The beef was
considered very choice, having much
better flavor and quality than cattle fed
on corn.
"rhe same feed il also excellent for
dairy purposes. Cows led on 1t yield an
increased qcsnt.ty 1t m; Sf.richerlual'
ity aud the animals gain ID hssh. do
not know how II would do for fattening
sheep, as l have had no experience.
consider this a legitimate business, one
that can be made to pay ifbandled prop
erly. do not know Of anyone else who
has fod in this way, but we have demon
strated thnt 1t is a profitable investment
and tbnt the rancbman can make consid'
erable money IL he will use this feed
No extra expense for equipment 10 re-
qnired exce,t for the silo. Ours wss
built to hold 1900 tons and cost $50
The feeding pens. stc., are the same as
any feeder would require.
"wi,h this feed the farmer gets nn in-
cieased quantity and an improved quail
i'y. lie gets II to cent PR pound for
improved quality and from $50 to 400
pounds per steer additional weight.
These results were obtained without
irrigation. Corn for making snsilage
grows nicely on tho divide without irri
pn,ion, by plosing deeply. Wa have
rais-d 1t successfully for five eyears lido
not know how Il would be In the valleys.
but au convinced that we do not have
To depend upon either raising corn or
buying 1t from adjoining states 10 order
Tn mature tho beat quality Of beef cattle
in Colorado At 4 profit. l believe that
these results should induce other raach-
mon TO engage IN the cattle feeding in
du-try and know Of nc better oppor-
tnnity for profitable investment. The
c1l' rdo climate 10 very favorable for
cattle feeding. rs tho winters src mild
aud dry. In the cattle feeding states
east oi US they have nsvere and snowy
rint.is, cold snaps being succeeded by
,hnas which makes the feed lot muddy.
Unj these conditions stock does not
gain weight rapidly, while in Colorado
the hiehrst percentage OF gain is obtain
ed. aud II requires only 10 days to ms
iufo tho beef, where II takca Xix months
In Nebraska or Kansas. Denver Rrpub
hrnp.