The Chanute times. [volume] (Chanute, Kan.) 1897-1913, 1900-09-07
Stock Feeding.

DuliCtii oOt IA hahosto <hbAASoAtuAc o.
Experiment Station: 1t is almost the
universal experience Of feeders that
the younger the animal the greater
will be the gain for given weight Of
food consumed, and 1t is now quite
generally believed that the profitable
feeding of hogs for market ends when
they have reached weight of l75 to
200 pounds. 1t Is also argued that
steers are most profitable when SO fed
as to be disposed Of ar an age of from
eighteen to twenty months. This,
however, does not accord with the pre-
vailing methods of growing steers up
on the ranges of Arkansas and pre-
supposes the most painstaking and
watchful care of the animal from birth
to time of sale. 1t Is not intended to
here imply that such is not the most
profitable method Of feeding, even un-
der conditions prevailing in this State,
but rather is offered as a suggestion
as to method likely to produce good
results.
OF those substances commonly used
as food for domestic animals, two dis
tinct classes are recognized-the coarse
folders and the concentrated foods.
Generally speaking the coarse folders
are those which contain a considerable
quantity of woody matter (crude A.
ber), notably from 20 to 80 per cent
or more of their dry matter. The con-
centrated foods contain comparatively
little. Nearly always less than 10 per
cent. This crude fiber is In a large
measure an index to the bulkiness OF
the food. Notwithstanding that GER
tain portion, frequently more than
half, of the crude fiber in food may
be digested by the animal to which 1t
is fed, the amount present is rough
index of the amount of that food
which will pass through the animal
undigested. In the concentrated foods
the proportion of indigestible matter
to the crude fiber is much larger than
in the coarse folders. In all cases it
Der present.
Owing to the peculiar structure of
their digestive canals different kinds
Of farm animals require food of diff
ferent degrees Of concentration or
bulk. Thus, horses doing little or no
work should have a comparatively
bulky and unnutritious food to keep
them in suitable condition. Store
cattle and sheep will require sim
liar but somewhat less bulky
foods. These same animals when
at work or fed for fattening will
require food of nearly equal bulk
but containing larger quantity of
nutritious or digestible matter. The
structure of the digestive tract of the
hog makes concentrated food only,
adapted to its use and nothing more
bulky than young and nutritious green
clover or similar material is Of value
to 1t. With all animals the bulkiness
of food best suited to them increases
with age. Very young animals require
food of little bulk while the food Of
horned cattle Of mature age may con-
tain from 40 to so per cent of indi-
gestible or effete matter.
The composition and digestibility of
foods Of the same kind vary within
certain limits according to the condi-
lions under which it has grown; the
stage of development at which it has
been harvested; and the thoroughness
and success with which it has been
cared for and preserved. OF these va
and, in fact, the only one concerning
which definite information can be
given, is the stage Of development at
which the crop is harvested. 1t is al
most an invariable rule in all plant
growth, that the younger the plant the
greater will be the proportion of nj
trogenous substance present in its dry
matter. The same is also true of the
ash ingredients Though the absolute
amount of these substances in the
plant or the number of pounds per
acre increases with the age the num-
Der OF pounds in each 100 pounds of
the dry matter of the harvest steadily
ucCI cdStS
When carefully preserved the mere
drying of grass does not decrease its
or in other words its food
value. The difficulties which are COM
monty met in the curing of grass for
hay makes the food value of that ar
ticle, generally, somewhat less than
would be that of an equal weight of
Try matter in the same grass fed
'resh. To what extent there will be
oss of food material in this way de-
bends upon the success Of the curing
operation. The relative qualities OF
iifferent hay cut from the same kind
If grass at the same stage of develop
nent can generally be ascertained by |
he farmer only by experience in hand
ing and feeding.