Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1907-05-02
Livestock on the Farm.
w 7. Kennedy, Iowa State Col

| (By w. j. Kennedy, Iowa State COL
lege)
The cheapest ration known to the
Iowa farmer for the production of pork
| is a combination of corn and clover or
alfalfa pasture. Pounds Of gain can De
made from the use of these feeding
stuffs for one third less money than
from almost any other combination OF
feeds available. Profit, as rule, comes
from a combination Of rapid and eco
l5nomical gains. The first ten weeks OF
the young pigs life are of a vital i'm \
portance, and very often determine the
question Of loss or gain in the feed lot.
Al pig that Is well done during the early
stages of it's life usually makes good
use of it's feed later on, while the stunt
ed weanling seldom, if ever, furnishes q
profitable market for corn and other
grain products. Little pigs, as a rule,
thrive much better on soft feeds and
Stops than on hard grains. For this
purpose a mixture Of some shorts and
corn meal, fed in conjunction with skim
milk, gives excellent results Some
finely ground barley, gluten feed OF oat
shorts may also be fed to good advan-
tage. The ration must be heterogeneous
and Of a palatable nature.
In the production Of lambs for the
early market, which as a rule, is the
most profitable one, our Iowa farmers
could very prof1tably practice some OF
the methods followed by the English
farmers. In many sections of England
the pastures are so badly infected with
parasites that the farmers aim to mar
|ket their lambs during the month of
June, or the early part Of July, before
these troubles make themselves Known.
The lambs are taught 70 eat grain at
very early age, most OF them eatlns
we'll at three or four weeks. Special
lamb pens or feeding creeps are pro-
vided for this purpose. In some in
stances self-feeder is used, but the
majority of farmers prefer such feed
to be fresh each day. For this purpose
mixture of corn. peas or beans. and
some linseed or cottonseed cake IS red.
The amount of the feed at first is very
small, but is gradually increased until
the lambs are eating from three ourths
to one and one fourth pounds each per
day. at three or three ana
one-half months Of age. This
method Of feeding is maintained
even when the grass is abundant. The
lambs are marketed at 3 to 4 months
old. weighing from 60 to 100 lbs. each,
and always sell for much higher prices
than lambs of similar quality later on
in the season. The grassland is then
utilized in the feeding Of yearling
wethers. which are not so susceptible
to the ravages OF the parasites which
kill the lambs.
The feet of bull demand more or
less attention, especially If he is rather
closely confined, and getting liberal
supply of grain. The feet should be
trimmed so that the animal always has
the proper use of the same. Some bulls
are as easily handled as gentle horse
and their feet can be trimmed without
the slightest difficulty. However, this
is rather the exception than the rule.
The most satisfactory way is to put
the animal in a stocks and raise it off
its feet Then. by Swapping the foot to
be trimmed, solid to beam, so that
the sole will be facing upward, the OPP
GRAFTON can be executed with pincers
and a chisel in a few minutes. Care
should be taken to avoid cutting too
deep or into the sensitive part of the
foot, as this would be very likely to
cause bleeding and iameness.
Bulls feet are often attacked with