Eagle River review. [volume] (Eagle River, Wis.) 1890-1927, 1923-06-07
Feeding Methods
Help Live Stock
Plan Evolved by Depart
ment of Agriculture to
Help Breeders.
prepared by the United States Department
of Axrieulture.)

The United States Department of
Agriculture announces a nationwide
service to bring about improved meth
DDS of feeding live stock in the United
States. The plan is to bring the knowl-
edge Of up-to-date feeding methods to
the attention of every livestock feed
er in the country; and, in cooperation
with state agricultural colleges, county
extension agents, and other agencies
interested in the betterment of the live
stock of the nation, to offer individual
assistance to farmers who have special
and difficult feeding problems.
Ever since the beginning of the BET
ter Sires-Better Stock" campaign,
which has enrolled more than 1900
600 head of live stock for improvement
by means of better methods of breed
ing, there has been a demand from
stockmen over the entire country that
the government inaugurate a better
feeding campaign. A large proportion
of inquiries on livestock problems re-
ceiyed by the department from farmers
Of the country seek information on
feeding. The plan which has been
evolved is expected to render a definite
service to those who ask for feeding
help, and also to bring knowledge Of
better feeding methods to many who
would not make inquiries
Best Methods Not Practiced.
That good feeding methods are
known and practiced by the more ex-
perienced live stock owners in the
United States is shown by the good
1ndition and finish of proportion of
animals appearing at stock yards, and
by good records in production made
by some feeders. But the proportion
can be made larger with benefit to the
individual grower and to the nation,
according to the department livestock
specialists. A conservative estimate
based on a careful survey Of American
farms shows that there are IA million
head of runty animals in the country.
A majority of nearly 1000 farmers
who commented on the situation stated
that adequate and proper feed are the
principal means of preventing runti-
ness in animals The tremendous NOR
tality among, young animals is largely
attributable also to lack of proper
care and feed up to and including
weaving time. These, and other facts,
point to the great need for more gem
eral practice of better feeding meth
DDS. They point also to the immense
amount of benefit that can accrue to
the nation in the way of better live
stock, more economical production,
and great saving in feedstuffs, if the
general livestock feeding practice of
the nation can be made more efficient.
Department Offers Wide Service.
The Department of Agriculture offers
an individual feeding service that is
available to any livestock feeder in
the country. One of the principal fea-
lures of this service will be a Feeding
Problem Sheet" which farmers may
obtain from their county agents, state
agricultural colleges, or direct from
the department at Washington. On
the feeding-problem sheet the farmer
outlines his problem briefly, and
describes his stock and available feeds.
The sheet is designed to enable the
farmer to give sufficient information in
brief form to make additional CORE
spondence unnecessary. The farmer
then refers the sheet to his county
agent who makes recommendation.
When the sheet reaches the depart
ment a livestock feeding specialist
studies the problem and makes suit
able reply.
A great deal Of the correspondence re-
ceived from farmers asking infOrma-
ton on special feeding problems does
not state the conditions surrounding
the problem in sufficient detail to per-
NIT of a definite reply. Additional cor
respondence often causes delay. The
feeding-problem sheet will correct
this and make it comparatively simple
for a stockman to submit his problem
in a form such that it may be cor
rectly diagnosed. Farmers will be en-
couraged to consult local agencies for
help with problems that are plainly
local in character.
The feeding problem service will be
of help to others besides those farmers
who submit their problems for
diagnosis. The department will study
the problems confronting livestock
feeders in the different sections of the
country and make public the results of
this study, thereby enabling the en-
tire country to derive a benefit. Every
livestock feeder who submits his feed
ing problem, telling his present prac-
tfce and the results being obtained,
villa be an active aid in the drive for
better methods of livestock feeding.
Handbook Being Prepared.
A vest-pocket-size handbook entitled
"a Handbook for the Better Feeding
of Live Stock" is being prepared by
department feeding specialists for free
distribution to farmers who desire a
handy-sized set of simple rules and
reference tables to be followed in feed
ing the different classes of farm ami
mails. Requirements of animals, simple
analyses of feeds, feeds to substitute
for other feeds, and simple feeding in
structions will enable farmers to I'M
derstand the principles Of better feed
ing. and fit their own practice to suit
the conditions on their farms.
The Department of Agriculture re-
aIfZes that, in. order to accomplish the
most good, a drive for nationwide bet
fer feeding of live stock must have the
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