The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1900-05-30
The REDWOOD GAZETTE.
~ AIKEN Z sCnnAnL.
WEDNESDAY, MAY %, 1900
TALK WITH A FEEDER.
n. m. Dennistoun Gives His Stock
Fattenlnq Experience.
South st. Paul Reporter.

A. NJ. Dennistoun, Of Redwood
Falls. Mimi, was in with a load of
steers and heifers which topped the
market in their respective classes
yesterday. The stock showed the
Shorthorn grading and possessed
good quality. This with the finish
gave then good chance to touch
the market in good shape. There
were seven steers that we're twenty
eight and one-half months old and
averaged 1907 pounds. While this
is not heavy for that age, yet they
did we'll and were not crowded too
fast, but simply kept growing, allow
ing no periods of stagnation. The
steers brought S.. 90 and the heifers
Drought $3.50, the highest price
brought by heifers for several
months.
This is Mr.. Dennistoun s second
experience of feeding cattle as a
business for himself, but he has fed
aud handled cattle for some time; in
fact, since boy, and gives some
good facts. He says: II fed the
cattle in barn and let them out
every day to exercise when it was
not too cold. Their food consiste d
of corn and cob meal mixed with
bran by bulk in the proportion Of 4
to l. At the start the cattle were
fed twice day, later when on full
feed, three times a day, all that they
would take with out getting off their
feed. This and starting in to work
up to full feed is very important.
In feeding I have found that it pays
to mix in bran and not have too
heavy a feed to start with. In this
way they work up on full feed much
better; it keeps them open so that
the digestive organs will work
well and makes the most of the food
besides keeping their appetites in
good tone. In regard to getting off
their feed, one must be very careful
in handling cattle because it takes
several days to get them gaining
again. Besides they are not paying
for their food which they consume
during that time. These cattle
were never off their feed since put
in until now. These steers have
always had plenty of good hay,
water and salt where they could
help themselves. These last two
are very important and good
supply should be kept on hand
where the steers can help them
selves.
Everything that would add to the
comfort of the steers was done as far
as possible. Bedding was used
we'll in the barn and straw was not
spared out in the yard so that they
could rest we'll and be contented,
wherever they were. This helps
to put on the pounds as we'll as the
feeding and quality of the animals. .
Mr.. Dennistoun has made good
observations and gives some views
that are interesting. He says: I'm
feeding l do not believe that it pays
to feed steers corn without grinding
as they get SO much more good out
of it when ground. OF course it
cannot always be done and is ex-
pensive. When it cannot be done
hogs should follow and pick up the
waste. I always raise my own
steers and lind that it pays to turn
them off between "a and 30 months
of age as the best money can be
made then. They weigh well, finish
nicely, there is good quality of
beef, and the cost of feeding is not
what it will be later. In this quick
returns are made, which is very
important at the present \day. |
never allow my steers to grow slow,
but keep them growing as fast as
possible, allowing no periods of
stagnation, as that Injuries their
quality and feeding to certain
extent. There are only small
majority of the farmers who really
| believe these facts about feeding
| By feeding stock all the fertility is
kept on farm. The grain is put
through them and a good price
obtained for it. / have never seen
a farm up in my vicinity where
stock is kept and fed in this way
but what it is increasing in fertility;
besides, the farmers are all we'll off
/ ~