The Rice belt journal., 1919-12-06
prepared by the United States Depart
ment of Agriculture)

(PrepareQ Dy Ine UnllSu otdtes bepoAl- I
ment of Agriculture) Il
Are you going to feed any cattle this ,
winter? If so, what kind of feed are
you going to use? And what kind of /
cattle are you going to feed?
Those questions have been asked
persistently, one feeder of another, for
the past several months wherever cat
tie are commonly fed in the United
States. Now the time has arrived for
filling the feeding lots-and the ques-
ton is more insistent than ever.
1t used to be the common practice,
when corn was high in price, to feed
more roughage. If corn was low, the
feeder could afford to feed it in larger
| quantities over a longer period. IL ne
was going to feed corn in considerable
quantities over a long period, he was
disposed to buy high-class cattle. II
corn was high and the feeder felt that
he had to use a larger proportion Oh
roughage, he was disposed to buy
palmer, thinner cattle.
A Day Of New Rules.
But just now all the old rules are
upset. Feeders, in common with every
body else, are living in new world
lust as truly a new world as II the
things seen by the zealot of Patmos
had come to pass. Corn is high-un-
precedentedly high compared to pre-
war prices. The old rule would be
"Feed more rough stuff" But rough
age also is high-unprecedentedly so.
What is to be done about 1t?
The United States department OF
agriculture agrees with the expression
of many experienced feeders that,
largely, 1t is a matter Of each mans
guessing for himself. Still the depart
ment insists that the accumulated
knowledge about cattle feeding IS
worth a great deal and that 1t can be
applied even under the present dis
, turbed conditions by practically every
feeder. The necessities of the situa-
ton will vary with different localities
and with different individuals in the
same locality. 1t is time, the depart
, ment experts believe, when no man
g should fail to avail himself of the help
:, of the county agent and experienced
u feeders in determining what is best To
do under particular conditions.
y Some of the foundation facts OF
- feeding. of course, are unchanged. II
- is still true, as it always has been, tna'
the soil fertility of a grain farm is al
" most certain to be depleted unless
W considerable part of the crop Is fec
!, to live stock and the fertility Valut
D. returned to the fields. Feeding, aftel
I all, is ordinarily part of balanced
ie agriculture, and it's profits or losses
le cannot be exactly figured on the bash
of money received for finished cattle
&c though every man, Of course, shoui'
~ take all precautions reasonably pos
H. sible to put the balance on the righ
W side of the ledger for the single opera
- tion.
he Feeding Period Shorter.
:" The new elements are variOusly az
v. plicable to different sections and I
a. different individuals. At least one
y them, however, is pretty general. In
feeding period will have to be shorte
than used to be considered desirabl
The maximum period that most feet
hu ers can contemplate this year is sal
IN m to be $50 days but preferably conside
'n' ably less. That means, necessarll
ISL that most feeders cannot afford
lls "feed TO a finish." It has been realize
lne for a long time that every pound
are weight put on at the end of finls
''e' ing period costs more than a pour
re- nut on earlier in the process. Wh'
Ing every pound put on at any stage
he the process is costing, as the feed
lar- feels. too much, the old six to elg
leu months period of feeding is in the q
im- card. It may come into play again
nes new deal, but not while the cards
IN distributed as they are at present.
me It used to be standard advice II
he only animals of good quality should
anu used, as they sell for higher pr
the and dress a higher percentage OF be
'red The department experts still
rom that the average feeder is taking i
be- chance on good steer than on pla
lori er one. but there are many feedf
rest especially the inexperienced, VIII
the they advise to use the palmer KIND
rom lust about sifts down to this expl
oeen sion from an old, experienced feed
crib "a policy that is practical and pr'
able for one feeder may be wholly
practicable for another. Because
man buys only top feeders and fe
Jen' to a finish is no evidence that ne
'isco, better cattle man than his neigf
g in who buys a lower grade OF cattle
,pen- does not feed to finish" And
the means, again, that every feeder is
noise yised to analyze his own situation
the the greatest care that ne can CIV
ntire It, that he avail himself Of what
every aid the county agent can give, tina
lsers.