Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1909-02-02

mistake is generally made In trying
to induce them 10 eat too much Feed only
a moderate amount 10 commence with
ana do not give all the feeds at once.
Feed the roughness at two or three times
during the day and change Its nature
and character as often as possible. Keep
the managers clean and have salt where
the cattle can easily reach 1t. Animals
are FAR more dainty than they are given
credit with being. and a thorough disin-
lection Of the feeding troughs by wash
ing them ont with a scalding solution
OF saisoda once in a while and keeping
old feed out OF them that has been con-
taminated BY the breath Of the animals
Is very important consideration. Com
fort m every sense is a necessity with
All classes OF i've stock; therefore the
stables should be kept well bedded and
perfectly dry and all disturbing and ir-
ritating influences removed from the
presence OF the cattle. II stOckers are
handled as suggested. there is no reason
why they should not go on grass in the
very best condition TO take on flesh rap
idly and make a large Increase in live
weight in grazing period OF four or
five months. BY handling them as out
lined they should gain from 100 to 200
pounds per head during the winter sea
SON. and this win not interfere in the
least with their making as large gains on
good pasture as they would otherwise
have made, The idea sometimes met with
that cattle fed during the winter will not
make uniform gains on grass is certainly
erroneous. though the claims made on
this point By practical feeders under GER
tain conditions are undoubtedly true.
These conditions. however. only pertain
when the animals have been improperly
fed and handled during the winter sea-
The problem OF handling feeders Is
much more complicated than that OF
stockers Animals unused to the stable
should be accustomed to 1t gradually and
the same care and precaution should be
taken in preparing a variety Of highly
palatable foods suited TO the peculiar
needs OF the cattle 10 be fed. OF
course. the class OF animals has
very deciding bearing on the
results OF a feeding trial. This We
have demonstrated by some seven diff
ferent experiments made In as many
years. and the feeder who hopes for sue
Gees under the flRctuating market condl-
tinns he has TO face win see TO 1t that
he has the very highest grade of animals
to commence with. II Is hardly necessary
10 state that long. lank. coarse-boned an
finals with eat-hams. light things. slOping.
contracted headquarters. sfiat ribs. narrow
backs AMI c0arseness In the shoulder and
forequarters generally speaking. VIII not
make as good gains as animals that are
short and stOcky. cOmpactly built, well
covered with firm but pliable flesh. pos
sessing symmetry and correlation OF
parts and a soft. yielding hide. Peoples
ideals OF what constitutes a good feeder
wary. SO remarkably that It is difieult
matter to discuss this point and make
ones attitude clear on IL, but our own
experiences has shown us that many sof
the so-caIled native cattle that are con-
sidered profitable feeders BY farmers
have not sustained their reputation in
our feed lots. This might By some be at
tributed to our method Of management
and feeding; but in view Of the fact that
the gains obtained have frequently been
as large, and In many instances larger
than those claimed by practical farmers.
indicates very clearly that the fault is
resident more particularly I'm the class or
animals fed and not due TO their feeding
and general management Make sure.
therefore. 70 get the right class OF feed
ers and then n the proper foodstutfs are
available. gain Of at least two pounds
per head per day for a period OF six
months can be looked forward to with
considerable assurance.
When feeders are first put I'm the stable
a week or ten days should be given to
accustcning them to their new surround
ings and teaching them how TO eat a va
Fiety OF foods. The environment cannot
be made too comfortable. Some of us for
get What a little thing will irrltate a
human being until he actually loses all
self-control. Yet we will subject our ami
mails TO a dozen different things that we
know are. FIRST OF all. uncomfortable. and
second. extremely irritating TO them. An
animal in an irritating environment will
never use foods advantageously. nor
make satisfactory gains. This Is famil-
lar platitude. no doubt, but IL Is one OF
those fundamental truths that win bear
repetition even unto the end OF the world,
for * covers an essential condition I'm sue
cessfui cattle feeding. II Is not an un-
common sight TO see feeders kept in yards
in which the mud is up to their hooks,
sometimes even belly-deep. and. though
they may not suffer so much from ex-
posure TO violent extremes OF weather il
IS most Objectionable 10 have them ex-
posed to cold. drizzling rains. Therefore,
a simple. shedlil<e structure for their pro-
lection during bad weather will prove a
profitable investment on any farm.
The objects OF feeding these cattle
should never be lost sight OF. and they
are somewhat as follows: First OF all. a
considerable increase in size. which calls
for a general development Of the frame
work OF the animal. This consideration is