Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1907-10-05
keep The CATTLE FAT
This Can Be Done Without in ANY
Way Hurting Their Breeding
Qualities.

L Is not uncommon IOT :. UEeeoei
who keeps his herd in good flesh
to be asked, "How do you get
yourscows to raise calves when IN such
high condition ?" or. How do you pre-
vent your calves from having blackleg
when they get SO fat"
1t is almost useless to tell such
people that the cattle are better OF
for being in good fesh and that the
dangers from disease are less. Ihey
usually can remember some COW IN
good condition that failed to breed
(for they forgot thin ones that did
the same), Or some good, young bull.
purchased for use, that dies of black
leg, rather than live on poor food.
The most Of the cattle raised in this
country have at different times OF lie
been without food when 1t was badly
needed, and each of these times has
caused them to lose growth that they
were never able to gain again. vet
erinarians tell us that cattle IN good,
strong condition withstand ailments
or diseases that would prove trouble
some IL they were in weaker con-
dition. Cattle that have been we'll
kept for generations transmit their
easy feeding habits to their offspring,
SSNAS
OF dogs inherit tf.eir pecultarities from
their ancestors.
The cattle should be of the easy
feeding, thick-fleshed kind. with good,
quiet dispositions. Often the hard
keeping, thin eshed kind produce
good. easy-feeding calves. when
crossed with, low-down. blocky,
furry coated bull, and the more such
blood they get the better they will
feed.
In selecting feeds, get as much of
variety as possible, OF feeds that are
rich in protein, for it Is this kind that
build up the muscular parts and keep
up,vigor Oats are probably the best
of the grains for breeding animals,
and are a very safe feed at all times.
Corn, oats and bran form a splendid
feed for growing calves, and older
stock as we'll Corn alone is not
safe feed, as it produces too much fat
and causes loss Of vigor.
The little calves should be watched
carefully at first to see that they suck
regularly and not too much. During
the winter months they should be kept
apart from their dams In the day, but
for the first two months they should
be given light feed of shelled corn
and oats, with little bran added, and
bright hay should be kept in the racks.
If born in the spring they can run
with their dams on grass until four
months of age at least, and the heifer
can run even longer. The bull calves
should be put in separate pasture, or
ot and allowed to suck twice day.
They should be taught to eat, and fed
some grain to keep. them in good.
thrifty condition.
AS tho calves reach six or eigh,
months of age they should be weaned
80 that the cows may have a good rest
before calving again. Now we have
reached point that will greatly affect
their future Instead of shutting a lo
of wild calves into tight pen, where
they will bawl until starvation induces
them to eat. we should teach them tt
eat and gradually increase their feet
until they are weaned. In this wa!
we retain the calf fat and put M
check to their growth.
From this on the bulls will neet
more feed, as they grow faster thar
heifers They may be kept in a lo
or pasture together for time, but al
they begin to play harder they hac
most of the time, allowing them tt
run out for few hours each day.
When a number are running to-
gether all the time, they will scuffl'
and play too much. and some will run
down in flesh in spite of all you cal
do for them, but when kept quiet thes
same ones may be among the best
Handled in this way they will requir
tn ,o11 x CIV hot cat ic
faction to their purchasers. Man
young bulls are injured at this age b
being fed too much corn in order t
keep up the flesh that they waste Il
scuffling around the lot.
The herd bulls should be kept Il
good, sound condition and allowed 1
take plenty of exercise. 1t Is best t
have them gain during the breedin
season as they are apt to breed surel
The extra flesh can easily be worke
off with exercise and slight decreas
in the feed. Oats should form tn
principal part of the grain ration, an
clover and alfalfa should be fed rathe
lightly. as too much of this kind {
hay. is liable to- make them too slo'
when full
The heifers should be fed quite we
uulll IIl0y S5l SltOu6 cHouSIi " Sdl
FOR themselves, say twelve months oil
By this time they can consume MOI
roughness, and if on good pasture wi
do nicely without grain.
When from twenty to tweuty-fol
months old they shoull be bred.
breeding, avoid having the calves com
during the extreme hot weather, as tt
flies and heat are too hard on Their
If the heifers are to calve during tt
winter they should have increase
feed at least two months before cal
ing. Many cows and heifers are a
lowed to shrink at this time, u
noticed by the feeder until 1t Is II
late, and trouble at calving time
often the result.
After the calf is born the fe,
should be increased as the calf nee
more milk. A heifer kept in go,
condition until her first calf Is wean
will give little trouble to her feed