The daily star-mirror. (Moscow, Idaho) 1911-1939, 1923-11-07
Farmers Opinions
on Stock Feeding
Obtaining Feed Economi.
cally Is Most Troublesome
Problem of Breeders.

prepared by the United States Departme
of Agriculture.)
Producing or otherwise obtainir
their feed economically is the mo-
troublesome feeding problem Of farm
ers who keep live stock. This wa
brought on emphatically through
QUESTIONABLE SEN out by the Unite
States Department Of Agricultur
which was answered by nearly so
farmers scattered over the country
The replies showed that general ecor
omy of rations, the cost of grain, an
The cost of protein represent about s.
per cent of the difficulties In feeding
These men clasSed balancing of IA
ions next in Importance. Other prob
lens, such as labor, increasing pro
duction, difficulties in wintering stock
short pastures, and variety and pal
atabflity of feeds apparently were
thought of only in connection with
the principal difficulties. That these
opinions + worth considering is
borne out by the fact that all of the
men questioned were progressive farm
ers and breeders, and the average pc
Rod OF their experience was 20 years.
Adopt Balanced Rations.
During the two decades these stock
raisers have been working to get
ahead, many changes have taken place
In the ways of feeding animals. The
outstanding progressive step taken has
been the wide adopting of the bal
anced ration. Other improvements in
the order given by most Of the five
hundred farmers are more liberal feed
ing, feeding more legumes, better wa
ter supply, providing minerals, feed
ing according to production, feeding
more protein, and more regular feed
ing. At the same time they list the
common errors in feeding which are
responsible for poor results, poor com !
frequently mentioned, followed by I'M
derfeeding as the next most effective
reducer Of profits. Following these in
regular order, based on the number of
times mentioned in the answers, come
lack OF protein, lack Of water, lack of
legumes, sudden changes Of feed, poor
housing parasites, lack of salt, waste
Of feed, poor equipment, and overfeed-
ing. Practically all Of these troubles
ire easily preventable.
Almost all of these 500 farmers had
'aised at one time or another scrubs,
and pure breds, and almost to
man they Joined in a paean Of praise
~ tho nv hnn1 n,N1u I onpf 81
hem reported that they had failed
With improved stock. Most replies
obtained specific estimates showing
he superiority of well-bred over ran
om-bred animals, and when aver
ged it was brought out that these
zen consider that pure breds make
bout 40 per cent better returns on
used thar common stock. 1t is
lteresting to note here that another
u~estionnaire sent out by the depart
lent a year ago and answered by sew
raj hundred farmers showed that in
leir opinion pure breds have a gen.
raj utility value a little more than 40
cent greater than common stock.
Many Use SeIf-Fe eders.
The report prepared by the depart
Ient on the results of this feeding in
contains many more in
eresting sidelights on feeding and
,rroborates q number Of tendencies
lat good observers must have sus-
ected. Tor instance, OF 400 who an
vered questions regarding the use OF ,
41.5 per cent had used
is method of feeding, leaving about !,
Iree-ffths yet to take up this econ
ny. AT present the self-feeder seems
be used mostly in hog raising dis
lets and for poultry. In the Middle
est more than half the farmers re- :
'rting used 1t. The general sentd- /,
ent seems to be that this piece Of .
uipment is especially suited to hogs !
ID chickens, but a few farmers used !
for feeding calves and sheep.
gu Of those h replied
ade comment on the feeding Of 81 !
&c, and practically so per cent Of !
en- use this feed. In the north =
states, where dairying Is very !
nerally followed, two-thirds Of the !,
in the list have sfios. Al !
ough most Of the silage Is fed to I
Try cows, the list Of animals to !
ich 1t is fed, according to the ques- l
nnaire, includes also steers, breed z
ewes, and brood sows. A few men q
'orted feeding 1t in limited quanti- II
) to horses, hogs, and lambs.
t Is worth while to note that more
n % per cent of these farmers who
wered the government questions dc
lifted farm papers as the principal III
rec of their knowledge of feeding fr
blems. Other important sources MS
ltioned were: Experience on home Ct
general observation, bulletins, sp
books and records. ra