The Washburn times. [volume] (Washburn, Wis.) 1896-1976, 1917-04-12
fBy RAY P. SPEER.)

| Hubbard Of Rice county, Mlnn., Dy
growing a cheap feed, by working out
an economical system of buying cattle,
and by devising an efficient scheme Of
farm management. Nothing has been
done which any other farmer cannot
do to make a success of his feeding.
In fact. lately many of Mr.. Hubbard's
neighbors have adopted his scheme Of
feeding, and dozens Of carloads of
cattle are now being fed where there
were few cattle fed several years ago.
The scheme of farm management
adopted is being considered more and
more by farm managers.
Outline of Plan.
A carload of each Of two classes Of
cattle, stockers and feeders, is handled
each winter. BY Stockers is meant
young cattle which are immature and
can be finished by one winters feed
| ing only with difficulty. By feeders is
| meant more mature cattle of good
weight that can be finished by one
winters feeding. The stockers are
purchased in the fall, and kept over
| winter to follow the feeders which are
being finished for market in the spring.
| They are pastured during the next
summer, and turned into the feed lot
as feeders. Each carload Of stockers
is kept about eighteen Notwithstanding
one winter and one summer-as stock
ers, and one winter as feeders.
The carload Of stockerS Is pur-
chased, generally about November 1,
and placed on pasture. About Decem-
Der 1 these cattle are placed in the
feed lot to run after the feeders
which have been kept on the farm one
year. The stockers remain in the feed
lot until the middle of May, when,
after the feeders have been sold, they
are turned out to pasture. They re-
main on pasture until about Decem-
Der I, when they are driven into the
feed lot as feeders, never to leave it
until ready for market.
Feed-Lot Equipment.
The feed-lot equipment is not an
elaborate one. The cattle are fed in
a lot 81 by 90 feet in size. This lot
of winter by a right-angled shed on
the north and west. A barn on the
northeastern corner Of the lot also af-
fords some protection. The lot is well
fenced with strong cedar posts and
two by six hemlock boards. Fences,
building and equipment are all painted.
Two sheds are provided, one for the
feeders, the other for the stOckerS.
These sheds are substantially built,
possess good roofs, are wind-proof on
the exposed sides, and have earth
floors. Good ventilation is provided.
The sheds are well bedded at all
times with straw. Two feed racks are
used in which to feed bundle corn.
One end of each rack is left open,
the open end being butted against an
open place. in the fence so that the
bundle corn may be fed easily from
the outside. Water is supplied from
a well at the edge Of the feed lot by
windmill which pumps the water
into large tank. The feed lot slopes
to the south, which enables the water
to run off easily. Before the steers
are turned into the yard, 1t is very
thickly bedded with straw, which
keeps the yard dry. The change from
pasture to bundle corn is brought
about gradually.
Time for Feeding.
Feeding begins at a. m. each day.
The stockers which have been in the
feed lot all night are turned back
into their shed. The racks are
cleaned and filed with bundle corn,
one layer deep, and packed fairly
tight. The feeders are turned into
the lot an hour later, more bundle
corn is thrown into the racks to COM
plete the morning feed. AS many
bundles are given as the steers seem
to be able to handle. The aim is not
to overfeed, and yet to give all that
will be consumed.
At II: 80 a. m. the feeders are
turned into the shed and the stock
ers are allowed to pick over the
stalks in the feed racks. at :15 p. m.
the stockers are driven back, the
racks are cleaned and filled, and the
feeders are turned out again. At
8 80 o. m. the feeders are driven in
for the night, and the stockers are
turned out. This method of feeding
is continued until about the middle
of May, when the feeders are shipped
to market.
The stockers are given access to
the feed lot from IL 80 a. m. to A 80
o. M, and from $50 p. m. to 8 a. m.
each day. So keen are their appetites
that there is little bundle corn left
when they have finished eating. No
other feed is given them except two
bushels of shelled corn at noon. about
five pounds of corn to each stocker.
Two Substantial Feeds.
In q general way, the plan is to give
both feeders and stockers two sub
stantial feeds each day. The same
time of feeding is carefully observed
each day, as the cattle will make sub
stantial gains only when fed regu-
larry. Salt is kept before them con-
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Most Important Factors.
In selecting the breeders, remember
l.