The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1900-05-09
FEEDING CALVES.
Emil SChmahl's Success at the
South St. Paul Yards.

Emil SChmdhis Success at the
South st. Paul Yards.
From the Liue Stock Feeder and Breeder
An experiment was tried last fall
in feeding calves on a large scale
with sugar beet pulp as the princi-
pal food by Emil Schmahl of Red
wood Falls. The experiment has
been success IN every way, al
though the feeding of the beet pulp
was abandoned through the winter
on account Of it's freezing, and be-
cause it was not supplied as fast as
needed.
Mr.. Schmahl secured the large
distillery barns at the stock yards,
which have ample accommodations
for 1880 full grown cattle. The
calves were picked up in the yards,
selecting the best that could be had.
No common calves were put in the
feed lot. Without hardly an ex-
ception quality shows itself very
prominently in the calves making
the best gains.
The calves now number about
800 head, and are the pride of their
owner. There are many pets among
them, who follow him around the
yard, teasing for something to eat
out Of his hand, or nibbling at his
clothes to satisfy their curiosity. 1t
is with a good deal of satisfaction
that the watchful eye of the feeder
looks over them each day, almost
seeing tn m grow as they get up
and stretch after carefully summing
themselves and chewing their cud
contentedly, or picking out a good
steer here and there that is out
stripping some of the others and
developing those proportions that
delight the eye of the experienced
stockman.
In this lot we find both steers and
heifers of the blocky kind, having
good color and form. They are
mostly graded, but there are some
full bloods amongst them as we'll as
a few more common ones.
The most important attention was
given to getting animals that would
make large amount of beef, cut out
a good percentage of high priced
cuts; also make meat that is well
marbled, and to get animals that
would feed easy and get profitable
returns.
The barn is admirably situated
for the work. A large yard is
fenced in all around them, and they
can 90 in and out of the barn al
will. They are fed inside in the
long troughs that formerly held the
distillery slop, but spend most of
their time outside, where they have
access to straw and hay racks.
Nothing but severe storms keep
them in.
Their food consists of beet pulp.
ground corn and cookie bran. with
wild hay for roughage. The pulp
is stored on one side of the barn
and is hauled around with a cart
and is put into the troughs with a
fork. The feed is sprinkled on top,
which indeed, must be very entic-
ing to the young cattle. The calves
are very fond Of the pulp and eat
right down to it as fast as possible.
The pulp acts as a laxative. and
with the feed fed with it, makes a
very evenly balanced ration. They
are fed twice day, always being
ready for their feed, of which $50
head clean up about five tons day.
ffeSn water, as we'll as salt. is al
ways to be found where the calves
can get it.
The calves cost about S1.5O a
head per month to feed, while they
have gained 81 80 each in value on
an average, some showing more and
some less gain. This is a gain
which is very satisfactory, where
every pound of food has to bought
on the market and handled. rent
paid for feeding space, while the
manure is not only a loss but an
item of expense to get removed.
Breaking Desired.