Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1916-11-16
SEAsONABLE LIVE
STOCK INTERESTS
Give Young Stock Attention
During Cold Weather.
SHOULD EE CAREFULLY FED
YOUNG Stock Must Continue Growth
During Wlnter-Should Start
Prime Condition In
Spring.
SHOULD eE CAREFULLY FED

son some farmers must De remlnueu
of the fact that young stock demand
careful attention during the months
hey are not on pasture. In this matter
DR.. S. s. Buckley, Animal Industry Ex'
tension, State College of Agriculture,
recommends the following treatment:
Seasonabie 1.-Two Stock interests.
After having turned out selected
lot of young stock last spring, grazed
and fed them until now. when they rep
resent a well-grown, well-conditioned
and promising lot of youngsters, 1t is
unwise and improbable to allow them
to "go back" or remain stationary
in growth during the fall and winter
months.
All animals are better for having
made steady and continuous growth
from birth to maturity, and any de-
gree of weight which is lost during
this period represents a money loss.
Grow Or Stand Still.
The feeding Of exclusively mainte-
nance rations is justifiable under GER
tain circumstances, but there Is never
justifiable excuse for feeding growing
and developing animals ration mere
ly for maintenance. Unto all things
there is season, etc." This Is fun
damentally true for live stock; all ami
mails mature at more or Tess fixed
ages whether or not they have had
the advantages Of feed and care. After
maturity, no system of feeding can
overcome the deficiencies Of develop
ment. The most which can be hoped
for is the production Of fat on these
stunted carcasses, even this Is added
at doubtful profit.
Take Stock OF Feed and Animals.
1t is very important therefore for
the farmer to take an accounting at
this season of the year. He should
make an estimate of the amount and
character OF the feed stored for the
fall, winter and spring months. and
the amount which he is prepared and
willing to purchase. He should also
estimate the quantity required to con-
tinue satisfactory and natural growth
and development in his animals.
These estimates he should compare.
II there IL likely to be shortage OF
food materials, the farmer should Sc
lect the least desirable individuals for
his purposes. These he should sell In
the condition in which they came from
the pasture. His most desirable ami
mails can then receive closer individ-
ual attention, and be developed into
high type specimens.
In this way the farmer makes a
double selection-frst from the very
young animals when he turns them
out and again after about six months
development he has an opportunity to
Gull them over II by chance he has
become overstocked or If his crops
have failed to come up to expecta.
lions.
Building The Body Framework.
The animal body grows and de.
veops uniformly and naturally only
when conditions are favorable. These
conditions can be favorable only when
the quality as we'll as the quantity OF
feed Is proper. A food ration, to be
proper, must be more or less perfectly
balanced" that is to say, 1t should
have all classes of food elements pres
ent in sufficient amounts, with none
in excessive amounts, thereby guard
ing against feed waste.
Good Pasturage contains all food
element in proper proportion good
Silage needs the addition Of strong
Protein concentrate like Cottonseed
Meal or Alfalfa good Legume hays,
with small amounts of grain and
roots, silage or beet pulp furnish de-
sirable and economical feed for grow
ing animals.
Frequently, however, farmers com.
pei their stock to subsist on Straw,
Corn Fodder or Hay alone. These sup.
port life and serve as maintenance
feeds, but for the purposes for which
young stock require food, the build
ing and growth of body framework and
tissues, such feeds alone are neither
satisfactory nor economical.
Checking UP.
The experienced and successful
stockman knows the game" and In.
stinctively "keeps tab" on his animals
from day to day To those less ex-
perienced, or in fact "novices," 1t Is
necessary that they should CHECK
up" periodically and determine how
their industry is progressing. No bet
ter way can be found than that Of
keeping records" for individuals or
groups.
Begin Now.
Gull over the live stock and sell all
that do not offer reasonable assurance
for future profits. Make an estimate
of feed on hand and stand ready to
purchase any needed additions when
the market is favorable. Make provi-
ion for proper shelter before severe
weather sets In, bearing in mind that
comfort and safety make for profits.
Finally when everything appears to
be in prime order for wintering the
rtock make the resolution that this
particular lot of stock shall emerge
rom winter finer and better, and start
in prime condition for the favorable
conditions Of spring.