The Monticellonian., 1915-01-28

less cost than they will sell for in the
market, we must feed them out on the
farm, SO that we shall realize more
than the market price for them, and
thus make two profits. Could we mar
ket price for feeding crops, we should
price We would not need to raise so
much to meet expenses. And if we
could realize a profit above the mar
ket price our feeding crops, we should
in many instances. double our income,
and without adding to the cost of pro-
duction and so have less cause to COM
plain of low prices and overproduc-
ton.
The first step towards more profit
able feeding is improved stock. There
are very few farms that are not sup
porting animals at a loss, on account
OF their inferior quality.
We should keep not only more good
stock, but we should keep those that
are adapted to our needs
Diversified farming is the safest.
Different soils require different crops,
and upon all, farm rotation is essen
tial to profitable production. But the
feeding of live stock is a separate and
distinct branch of the business; and
the narrower the limits to which we
confine ourselves the better the re-
suits
Study the adaptation of your farm;
its location to good markets, your own
dislikes and then specialize upon the
kind of stock husbandry that judgment
teaches is best for your farm.
The beef producer will not find It
profitable to keep Jerseys, nor the
dairyman Herefords.
1t is feeding speeialpurpose animals
that has enabled feeders to realize
profits on the amount of feed that is
consumed and it is the feeding of
dairy animals that has enabled dairy
men to make their business profitable.
The better the animals the larger
the profits, and the animals that are
bred for special purposes are more
certain of giving good results.
While it is my opinion that dairy
farming is the most profitable man
ner of realizing good profits on home
grown feeds, yet it is out of the ques-
ton for all of us to become dairy
farmers. Some will do better with
sheep and some with horses
1t is not profitable for a man to
handle animals that he does not like,
and that he cannot take pride and
interest in keeping in good condition.
ri, ;.;
ing any kind of stock, is pure water
and plenty of it; other things may be
neglected to a certain extent but the
water is Indispensable.
More than one-half of the live
weight of all our domestic animals
solvent, the medium by which all sub
stances that nourisb plant and animal
life are made available.
Another important factor is good
shelter, protection from heat and
cold 1t requires food to maintain
heat in the body, and the amount re-
quired for this is much greater, if the
animals do not have protection from
the cold On some farms, the amount
of feed required to keep up heat is
more than the amount converted into
growth and fat.
Many of us fail to preserve our feed
ing crops in a way to make them pal
atable and digestible. If they are not
paIatabe they will not be eaten, and
if they are not digestible they will pro-
duce no good results.
Too much of the food finds its way
into the manure, without being eaten
on account of not being palatable, and
much that is eaten, many times fails
to nourish. on account of not being di-
gestible.
Oyerripe hay that is damaged, over
ripe straw, corn fodder and stalks that
have become woody, contain but a
small per cent of nutritive value which
they would have possessed, had they
been cut and cured at the proper time
The silo offers a way by which we can
preserve our corn crop at time when
it is of the greatest feeding value and
keep it without waste and preserve it
in the best and most palatable con-
dition. so that it will furnish the great
est possible amount of nourishment.
If you have no silo the stalks may
be improved by cutting and fed to the
stock after being sprinkled with water
and a little mill feed.
If preserved in good condition, the
cattle will consume about all of the
hay. straw and fodder with very lit
tie waste, and SO yield US all the prof
it there is in them.
It seems the height of folly to grow
good crops and feed them out under
conditions that will not allow of
profits.
No single crop will form a balanced
!