Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1910-01-25

I too frequently the master apportions what
comes most handy without regard TO its
meeting the physiological requirements of
/ the body or sustaining the animal to the
best advantage when the work it Is TO
perform is considered. II has been shows
on more than one occasion that an eN-
cessIve amount of roughness of low nu-
/ tritive quality will not sustain horse
properly dairy COW cannot do her
J hest work when fed wide ration in
which carbohydrates. such as corn or
even silage of the highest quality, pre-
| dominates. She must have some concen-
trated food because these substances con-
| tain a larger per cent OF protein which
/ is necessary for the nourishment and
maintenance of her nervous system on a
I highly efficient plane.
] The feeding of animals. therefore, is
not as simple a proposition as IL often
! appears to be, and it is to be regretted
that means are not more generally APP
preciated by which the larger per cent
of the boys and girls now growing UP
might obtain a more definite knowledge
of animal anatomy and physiology. With
the information which studies Of this
character would convey their minds
they would be in position to utilize to the
hest advantage the great variety OF food
| stuffs which nature provides in all sec
1
stock II is needless to say that the an.-
mails would benefit greatly and he main
tanned i'm a higher state Of health and in
a better physical condition. and on that
account have the capacity for performing
/ greater amount of work for their
master.
IT h indeed remarkable that In many
sections of the south comparatively little
attention has been given to the subject
Of animal nutrition. This work has fire.
duentIv been left to field hands who hav
! little love or regard for animal life, and
certainly no knowledge of their peculiar
4 ills and needs. As a result. millions o(
dollars are annually sent out OF the state
| for the purchase of mules to take the
place of those which bad feeding ana
management have destroyed in a compar-
lativeIv short time. UnquestiOnably. 4
study of such fundamental subjects. as
has been suggested, and the application
lof this knowledge in the feeding anC
handling of our plantation stock would
proIong their average usefulness by a pc
/ rod OF several years. Ii is also quite
evdert that if greater attention were paif
to this important subject and a larger
number Of mares maintained on oui
southern farms that the greater part oi
tire mules needed to replenish our work
: stock from year to year could be raised
at home Under existing conditions IL is
] doubtful il an end so desirable from the
STANDPOINT Of economies could he brought
about because animals bearing young re
quire n different kind OF feeding ano
treatment from that which can he be
slowed upon the mare used solely as q
draft animal. Let us trust that Their,
will be n greater interest taken IN mat
ter of such vital importance i'm the future
ard that through the dissemination ot
q knowledge which can now be easily
placed within the reach OF the averag,
/ boy and girl that a change in the pres
ent practice with regard to animal feed
ing and breeding may be brought about
as il can not fail to have a most benefi
ciaI effect on insuring the permanent
I prosperity of the south.
/ In this connection It is proper 10 state
that there are many other points which
must receive attention IL animals are tC
/ he maintained under most favorable con
dItions at a minimum Of cost. II should
/ he clearly recognized at tie outset thai
l the cost of gain increases with age, and
, that il is desirable. therefore, when feed
, ing young animals to rush them as rapid
lily as possible from the birth period t.
I maturity. This applies to all classes o.
, stock and explains i'm some measure VIII
! stock husbandry has so often been re-
{
is frequently made to push the animal.
at the right time. AS a result. they do
not mature as early as they should, anC
when an attempt is made to fatten then
| or finish them for the market. as the cas'
may be, IL is found to be an expensive
and difficult undertaking owing to the un
necessarily large amount of food con
sumed. These are points which have ;
definite bearing on one of the creates
! problems which need solution at the
present time. namely. the development o
animal feeding along profitable lines 81
that the great concentrates, either pro
duced or which may be grown. may b.
utilized in the nutrition of live stock anI
the resulting excreta made to supply {
large part of the nitrogen and vegetable
matter which is so necessary to soil fer
tility. While a suggestion of this kim
may seem of but little importance and i
passed lightly over. it is nevertheless on
of the great fundamental and basic truth
which will either hake or mar the for
tune OF the breeder of live stock, an,
the fact that II has been overlooked Il
the past with dire results does not un
fortunately, seem to have left so perma
nent an impression on the mind of sue
ceeding generations as ii should have.