Evening star., 1916-04-16
LIVE STOCK TOPICS
BRIEFLY DISCUSSED
Snappy Paragraphs of Interest to
Farmers. Dairymen and
Stock Raisers.
Live Ideas About Proper Care and
Handling of Horses, Cattle,
Sheep and Swine.

1t is somewhat doubtful whether the
grinding of corn for some classes of
live stock is worth the labor and eN-
pense involved. Tests conducted for
ten years at the Wisconsin experiment
station showed an average increase in
gains of about per cent from grind
ing corn for hogs. The results for in
dividual years ranged from II per cent
loss to Is per cent gain. The Iowa sta
tion has also done considerable work
in testing various methods of prepar-
ing corn for hogs. and found that. while
grinding showed a slight increase in
the feeding value of corn for older
hogs. such gains did not begin to pay
the cost of shelline and grinding.
Soaked shelled corn showed to much
better advantage than the cornmeal
and also proved somewhat better than
the dry ear corn.
1t was a question. however, whether
the differences in feeding value paid
for the labor of Smelling and soaking.
1t is advisable to grind small. hard
grains. such as kaff1r. milo. barley. rye
or sorghum seed. as otherwise a large
proportion of the feed may not be di-
| gested
Ground oats for horses have not
shown any great advantage over whole
oats except in the case of horses that
are at very hard work or have de-
however. will increase their feeding
value from 20 per cent to 30 per cent
since the hog is not able to digest the
whole grain to advantage.
As much as 25 per cent of whole corn
may remain undigested when fed TO
cattle. 1t is therefore desirable to
grind the corn to prevent this waste
Sheep will handle whole grain to much
mt
1t is possible to increase the milk now
| OF COW by good feeding and care be-
| fore it is firmly established No system
OF feeding has yet been brought forth
that will increase the quality of milk
that is. in the percentage of fat. 1t
would seem from practical experience
| that it is possible to ascertain systems
| OF FEEDING to at least temporarily in
| crease the percentage of fat in milk.
| but to sustain it throughout the period
| of lactation we know of no particular
| kind of feeds to advocate for this pur-
pose. Where increased flows of milk are
desirable 1t is very important that the
| feeder watch his cows closely at the
| time of freshening and gradually in
| crease their feed so long they will
\ respond to the increase. When the
animal has reached her limit of pro-
| duction it is well then to drop back a
| little in the amount of meal fed, as il
| is not feasible under average conditions
to feed all the grain a COW will eat in
| order that her maximum flow of milk
may be sustained.
Most any good farm grown products
| produce a good-f1avored milk. There
are few feeds that affect the flavor
| that is, what we term an off flavor
| The feeding of a large amount of ruta-
| bagas turnips just before milking
| will invariably give the milk an objec-
| tionable odor. Permitting cows to
| Craze on rape pasture will also cause
| fl Nn cd II
| Even clover pasture will have its ef-
feet and so will grass.
If you can make your lambs weigh
fifty pounds when they are four months
old you are making a fine profit on
them.
The transformation of corn into pork
brings good money TO those who know
how to turn the trick.
| 1t pays to feed and care for the ewes
generously, as it not only insures a
good crop of lambs. but il also makes
the wool better and heavier.
Keep at least one horse in the stable
with shoes At to travel on icy roads
| in case of an emergency.
| Something wrong when horse re-
fuses his rations. Maybe you have been
letting him stand in the barn too long.
Take him out and exercise him.
| The sort of a feeder steer that will
| show the best gains will have a short
| neck. short legs, straight back and
| deep body. The legs should be short
| and straight, but should not stand
far apart Deepness of the body is one
| thing that must be found in the steer.
as you are picking an animal with the
ability to eat and digest large amount
| of feed. This means that the body
should be deep in front to give plenty
| of room for the vital organs, and it
| must be roomy at the hind flank.
| Other points that should be watched
are these: Pick the steer with the
| heavy muscled forearm. as this indi-
| Gates a thickness of lean meat all
J through the carcass. An indication Of
| early maturity is the shortness of the
| cannon bones See that the loin is
| wide. the hook bones far apart and
| the rump long and wide. The muscles
| of the thigh should come well down
| toward the hook. While the handling
| quality of steers when fattened is i'm
| portant as an indication of the quality
| of the meat, it is necessary in the Sc
| lection of feeders to get loose. Dlia-
| BILE and mellow skin with heavy
| covering OF fine. vigorous hair. All Of
| this indicates thrift, health, vigor and
| the ability to turn feed into good
grade of beef at a comparatively small