The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1904-05-04
CATTLE FEEDING
PROBLEMS IN HAWAII

To the Gazette w. H. c., a sub
scriber in Hawaii. writes:
q am particularly interested in the
fattening of cattle and would ask your
advice as to how and what TO feed under
the following conditions We can raise
orr own corn at IS cents per cwt. and
we have two or three native grasses
that grow all through these islands and
are very fattening. The cattle feeding
on these grasses fatten in from six to
eight weeks Would the weight put on
by feeding corn in addition to these
grasses pay? We have very uniform
temperature all the year round and at an
elevation of 5000 TT. Also advise me
as to how large a pen | should have
per month We get 10 cents per pound
dressed weight for our beet. Should
the corn be ground or fed whole? :"
Our subscribers inquiry brings out
many points of interest in connection
with the opportunities for beef produc-
ton in Hawaii With native grasses
possessing the fattening properties claim
ed by our subscriber and corn at IS
cents per cwt. the people of Hawaii en-
10Y possibilities for the economic pro-
duction of beef not TO be found else
where in many, if any, parts OF the
world.
Experiments in this country have in
dicated very clearly that during the early
summer months when there is an aburld-
ance of grass, the pasture lot alone fur-
nishes the most economical method OF
producing gains on fattening cattle
While heavier gains were usually OBJ
tanned when grain of some kind, gener-
ally corn, was fed to fattenIng cattle on
luxuriant pastures the gains were not
mace at as low a cost as when the
grain was omitted. Most OF otir best
feeders, however, feed light ration OF
grain to cattle on grass as by So dong
they can carry more cattle on given
area of grass, also market the cattie
sooner than when grain IS not Ted, Willch
in most instances is an important factor.
The price of grain is also a very lnpor-
tant factor in this connection, as cheap
corn can always be fed at greater
profit than high-priced corn.
The term fat" cattle is very misiead-
ing as it is used by different people.
When used by the average man pm the
farm it may mean an animal IN good
healthy condition, habitat, medium tat
and so on, but very rarely an animal III
nrime condition. At any of our leading
stock Yards markets fat steer IS fat
steer and nothing else. 1t is very doubtful
if the cattle referred to by our subscriber
as becoming fat In from SIX to e1gnt
weeks are really fat aninals-animals
which would sell as such at, for instance,
the Union. Stock Yards, Chicago. On
the contrary they would very likely De
ciassed among that large class winch
finds its way to all OF our markets pc
fore it is really warmed up. WITH
corn at as cents per cwt. your SUBSCRIBE
has very cheap grain feed. Ii he wishes
to fatten his cattle IN a short period Oh
time, so that he may handle a larger
number each year, it will very dkeiy DC
profitable to feed limited amount OF
corn in connection with the native grass
es. If the cattle are OF a tar quanty
there should be good money IN feeding
corn at the price stated when 10 cents
per pound can be obtained for the dress
ed beef. This is about 2 cents per pound
more than our cattle feeders are getting
for beef produced from corn costing
from Is to 90 cents per cwt.
Where grain is fed TO cattle on grass
it should be fed but once day and that
in the evening The cattle will usually
make much better use of 1t then, as they
are more restful, thus have better
chance to digest the corn before 1t
passes through them, Where the tenn
perature is so mild and even throughout
the entire year it would be poor economy
to spend much money in pens for feed
ing purposes. Where shelter is not
needed the grain may be fed to good
advantage in the pasture lots providing
good strong feeding hunks or troughs