Warren sheaf. [volume] (Warren, Marshall County, Minn.) 1880-current, 1915-01-27
CORN AND ALFALFA
FOR RANGE CATTLE
Bundle Corn Serves the Purpose
We|I---A|faIfa in Evening
GreatIy ReIished.
BY HOWARD R. SMITH.

Inc present shortage OF peel CaLL1o
is evidence of the fact that the range
territory In the West is not supplying
the demand. Because of this scarcity
and high prices on feeder cattle it
is desirable to grow more cattle for
feeding purposes on Minnesota farms.
Many farmers. however, are not so
situated as to keep cows and have
followed the practice Of buying thin
Western cattle at the stock yards
each fall.
Most of the cattle coming from the
range country are two years old or
over. They are not usually sold
earlier because Of the low cost OF
range grazing. Many ranchmen
make a practice of keeping their cat
tie until they are four years old be-
cause as they approach maturity they
fatten readily on grass and sell on the
market as killers.
Leave Buying to Market Men.
Feeders bought on the market usual
ly weigh from 800 to 1000 pounds
each. The buying should be entrusted
to a reliable commission firm. The
men at the markets keep we'll inform
ed as to values and can buy to the
best advantage preferably on orders
to be filled at some future time. Feed
ers can usually be had to advantage
in September or October. There may
be considerable quantity of second
growth hay or other pasture that
should be fed up and If 80 the cattle
should be bought reasonably early to
take advantage of this cheap feed.
Bundle-corn makes excellent feed
at low cost for such cattle in the
fall months. A half-bundle to steer
the first day is enough, but the allow
ance may gradually be increased until
each steer is receiving the equivalent
of about ten pounds of corn per day.
Limited to that quantity they will be
able to consume all of the stalk that
is useful as a feed This quantity of
grain would represent approximately
half of what constitutes full feed.
Protection Is Necessary.
The cattle should be placed in q
protected yard upon the coming Of
cold winter storms late in November
or early in December. A long, mar
row shed at the north side of the
yard. with openings on the south
furnishes ample protection for mature
cattle being fattened. II good bed
ding is provided the cattle will remain
inside much of the time If the feed
ing of bundle-corn. is to be continued
In the yard, wide bottom racks with
| vertical Stats to prevent waste should
be set up. These can also be used
| for hay unless it is more convenient
! to feed under roof.
Bundle-corn fed in the morning in
quantity to provide ten pounds OF
grain per day to each steer will give
enough roughage to last during the
day and enough grain for the morn
ing feed. The same quantity of corn
or mixture of corn and barley OF
oats can be fed in the late afternoon
With only corn stalks as roughage, II
is highly desirable to give with the
night feed Of grain at least two
pounds of linseed or cottonseed mea
to each steer, choosing the feed thai
can be had at the lowest price pei
ton. When corn is high in price, this
could be increased to three pounds.
Alfalfa Has Advantages.
| If the cattle receive a feed of alfal
! ia at night they will consume it with
great relish and with such a feeC
would require no linseed or cotton
seed meal With clover hay they
should be given about one pound PEI
day of Hnseed or cottonseed meal II
a number of experiments with two
year-old steers, the writer has foune
that beef can be produced at the low
est cost and with the highest profits
with the corn plant and alfalfa hay
Whether or not the grains are more
economical with the stalk convertes
into silage or fed as bundle-corn is /;
matter not fully determined. Bundle
corn makes very cheap feed in thu
fall and early winter, but is less val
liable towards spring because Of thu
effects of weathering. Furthermore
the ears become hard and difficult t.
nasticate, when thoroughly dried out
Silage is just as good in quality in thu
1 spring or summer as in early white
and can be fed to much better ad
vantage than bundle-corn in ba
weather In practically all experi
ments, si1age has given slightly large
gains and if it can be put up at j;
reasonable cost it Is unquestionabl,
an economical feed It is less neces
sary when alfalfa is supplied becaus
of the succulence and paiatability O
such hay.
There is no better forage plan
than alfalfa and the acreage devote
to this crop should be greatly II
creased in Minnesota. Through tn
medium of this plant one is not onl
able to grow the required amount Q
protein for best results In feeding
7 1 h,,k