The Challis messenger. (Challis, Idaho) 1912-current, 1919-12-10

prepared by the United States Depart
ment Of Agriculture.)
Are you going to feed any cattle this
winter? II 50, what kind Of feed are
you going to use? And what kind of
cattle are you going to feed7
Those questions have been asked
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
filing the feeding lots-and the ques-
ton is more insistcnt than ever.
It 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 longer period. If he
was going to feed corn in considerable
quantities over a long period, he was
disposed to buy high-class cattle. If
corn was high and the feeder felt that
he had to use larger proportion of
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 a new world
just 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-.
var prices. The old rule would be
Feed more rough stuff" But rough
age also is high-unprecedentedly so.
What is to be done about it?
The United States department of
agriculture agrees with the expression
Of many experienced feeders that,
largely, it 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 it 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 a time, the depart
ment experts believe. when no man
should fail to avail himself of the help
If the county agent and experienced
feeders in determining what is best to
do under particular conditions.
Some Of the foundation facts Of
feeding. Of course, are unchanged. It
is still true. as 1t always has been, that
the soil fertility of grain farm is al
most certain to be depleted unless a
considerable part Of the crop is fed
to live stock and the fertility value
returned to the fields. Feeding. after
all, Is ordinarily a part Of balanced
agriculture, and Its profits or losses
cannot be exactly figured on the basis
Of money received for finished cattle
though every man, Of course, should
take all precautions reasonably pos
sible to put the balance on the right
side Of the ledger for the single opera
ton,
Feeding Period Shorter.
The new elements are variously ap-
plicable to different sections and to
different individuals. At least one Of
them. however, is pretty general. The
feeding period will have to be shorter
than used to be considered desirable.
The maximum period that most feed
ers can contemplate this year is said
to be $50 days but preferably consider.
ably less. That means, necessarily,
that most feeders cannot afford to
''feed to finish" It has been realized
for long time that every pound Of
weight put ON at the end Of finish
ing period costs more than pound
put on earlier In the process. When
every pound put on at any stage OF
the process is costing, as the feeder
feels, too much, the old six to eight
months period OF feeding is in the dis
card. It may come into play again on
a new deal. but not while the cards are
distributed as they are at present.
It used to be standard advice that
only animals Of good quality should be
used. as they sell for a higher price
and dress higher percentage Of beef.
The department experts still say
that the average feeder Is taking less
chance on good steer than on plain
er one, but there are many feeders.
especially the inexperienced. whom
they advise to use the palmer kind. It
Just about Sits down to this express
sion from an old, experienced feeder !:
"A policy that Is practical and profit
able for one feeder may be wholly Inn
practicable for another. Because one
man buys only top feeders and feeds
to q finish Is NO evidence that he Is q
better cattle man than hiS neighbOr
who buys a lower grade Of cattle and
does not feed to . nnish." And that
means, again. that every feeder Is adj
vised to analyse his own situation with
the greatest care that he can give to
Il. that he avail himself Of. whatever