Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1914-06-27

head Of young pig is a fairly good
indext Of his future development. If the
head is broad. strong in the muzzle,
with large nostrils and a large mouth.
the pig should develop into large,
we'll proportional animal. Avoid pig
with narrow head, small nluZzle and
small mouth. as such an animal sell
dom, If ever, develops into the profit
able kind Of an animal. These are all
utility points and should be given
careful consideration in making your
selections. Remember that the head
more than any other one point is the
true index Of the animal.
Shoulders.
Insist on having wide, smooth, COM
pact shoulders. Avoid undue coarse
ness or prominence on the sides. This
is a dollar and cents point, as every
market discriminates against a coarse,
rough shomdered hog as lacking In
finish and quality
Straight Body Lines.
1t is good idea in all young ami
mails to insist on rather straight body
lines. If anything the top line should
be slightly arched. The lines indicate.
in measure, strength and vigor; also
go to make up well-proportioned
hog. The width Of the back should be
carried well down on the sides 1t is al
ways UeSl W dSoio S-SHdpeu coIhoT-
nation.
Quality.
Quality is always an important point
to look for. While size should not be
sacrificed too much for quality, still
we must have fair degree of quality,
as every market demands the same.
The markets object very much to
coarse, rough shoulders and wrinkles
or creases on the sides, backs or loins.
A MT iok ctr~oio oh nf boi oil
ways helps the general appearance and
attractiveness of bunch of hogs.
Coarse, curly or wiry coats Of hair are
always considered as external indica-
lions Of wastefulness from dressing
standpoint, and coarseness of grain OF
meat. It is always wise to insist on a
large smooth hog with plenty of finish.
Remember that the hog for the corn
belt farmer is the one which will make
the largest number Of pounds Of good,
edible meat from a bushel Of corn and
the various kinds Of forage crops, or
supplemental feeds used in conjunction
with the corn.
Grain Feed Questioned.
In the estimation Of the most sue
cessful cattle feeders. it is very doubt
FIJI rs u whether 1t pays to feed voting
.'rln'.ls. or animals which have NOT
previously ha1 nuch grain-mucn, II
is '.run0ant THIS Is especially rite of
;lnime 9 that are not intended for the
early fall market. Tests made by tho
Iowa aericultural experiment station
along this line where two punches Of
c:tttle Of equal quality were allowed
the rLn of equal acreas of good blue
grass pasture. .ne receiving grain in
add"itr. and the other lot on grass
alone. would lead US to believe that
NV o%s =
economical gains can be secured from
grass alone than from a ration Of grain
in addition to grass during those
months wren grass is most plentiful.
During the hot dry months small
grain "a ton was found to be most help
full. This must be governed to GER
tain extent by the amount Of grass. II
grass Is short, sornn grain can be fed
to good advantage. The preparation OF
portant point When cattle are changed
from dry feed to grass, their mouths
soon Indicate tenderness lnat makes
the dry, hard corn difficult Of mastica-
ton. This calls for preparation Of some
kind. Many advocate the grinding of
the corn. IN our experience shelled corn
which has been soalred for about
twelve hours has given the best salts
faction. The sheled corn which passes
through IIlS CdIllS unClScSLcu Is InuCA
more likely to be utilized by the hogs
following the cattle. Where there are
no hogs to follow the cattle and corn
is high in price, 1t should always be
ground, as this will save about IL per
cent.
Cattle ON grass should be fed corn
but once a day, and that always in the
evening. The advanteS es of feaHiEg IN
the evening are that tie cattle ara full
Of grass then thus will consume the
soaked corn rrore leiSurely than when
the st oi1ach Is empty. They so",i lie
down and ruminatioa commences and
is far rlore effective CT. the corn when
the St ,nacll is full CT grass Careful
observation leads as to believe that
less ,l1.igesrer corn is found In the
droppings wien the cattle a.. fed on
full st ,mac'.s in the evening thnn when
they are fed on empty stoma chs III the
7,enty Of Gross Necessary.
An abundance Of grass is n. OF the
surest ways Of securing good gums.
Too many cattle feeders overcrowd
their pastures and by so doing are al
ways scarce OF grass. Grass to the
knees" is good motto for the cattle
feeder to frame in his own mind and
to put into practice On his farm.
Plenty Of pure fresh water should al
ways be available. No special effort
should be made to induce feeding cat
tie, to consume extra quantities of
water, as it IL not considered to be
conducive to the most economical