Williston graphic., 1919-01-09
HELPING THE MEAT
AND MILK SUPPLY
STRAW AND STOVER MAKE
MEAT AND Mi

Only those feeds should be used ir
wintering live stock which will keeI
the animals in thrifty, growing con-
dition. In following this policy it is
possible for the stockman to cut down
his own feed bills and prevent from
going to waste many of his home.
grown farm products which in the
past have been entirely or partially
lost. In utilizing as far as possible
corn stover, straw and such material,
other products foremrly fed to live
stock, but which are suited and much
needed for human food, can be con-
served.
It is estimated that the total
amount Of corn stover and straws
burned, plowed under, allowed to rot
in stacks, and wasted in these ways is
worth over $1OO,OO0,OOO. This is an
appalling loss, and if these feedstuffs
were used in the feeding of cattle,
sheep, and horses it would result in
greatly increased profits to individ-
ual farmers as we'll as tend to in
crease the supply Of meat and dairy
products.
After three years. study with cat
tie in the Corn Belt the Oce and Farm
Management of the United States De-
partment of Agriculture has demon
strated that the breeding herds main
tained most largely on roughages,
such as oat or wheat straw and corn
stover with very small quantity of
concentrate feed, such as cottonseed
meal, corn, etc.,, are the herds from
which the largest profits are return
ed.
How Straw Is Used
of the total amount of straw pro-
educed annually in the United States
$40 per cent, or 4,7O8,O0O tons, is
estimated to have been used for feed
ing purposes, while that used for
feeding purposes at 1913 per cent, or
14,519,OOO tons. Accordingly, the to-
tai used in livestock production
would be about 67.2 per cent, or 79,-
,227,OOO tons. The straw that was
sold, plowed under, and burned
amounts to about 1928 per cent of the
total, or 38,527 900 tons. Thus more
than one-third of the total production
of straw is being used to disadvan-
tage, one-half of which is an almost
total loss. If straw is not used by
live stock or plowed under, its value
as soil -enriching material is main
ly lost. Its chief value as fertil-
izing material lies not in, it's fertiliz-
ing elements, but in it's tissue sas a
source of humus.. Because of its
value as food and, when used for
bedding, as an absorbent of liquid ma
nure, it is very poor economy to plow
straw under when it can be used as a
feedstuff or bedding material
Practical experience as we'll as ex-
perimental work has taught that
straw and stover can be used very
economically in the rations of almost
all kinds of live stock. These rough
ages are and should be used in the
fattening rations Of all farm animals
except hogs, and should compose the
larger part of all wintering or keep
ing rations for cattle, sheep, and
horses. Breeding herds of beef cat
tie or dry dairy cows can be success
fully kept on rations composed large
!. ly of these materials. Flocks of
breeding ewes do we'll with such feeds
when some grain is added. Horses
doing very light or no work need lit
tie grain if given a plentiful allow
ance of clean, bright straw or stover.
Under certain conditions, of course,
grain should be added to the ration,
but it should be conserved as largely
as possible for human consumption.