The daily star-mirror. (Moscow, Idaho) 1911-1939, 1923-10-08
Farmers Opinions
on Stock Feeding
Obtaining Feed Economi-
cally Is Most Troublesome
Problem of Breeders.


Producing or otherwise obtaining
their feed economically is the mos
troublesome feeding problem of farm
ers who keep live stock. This was
brought out emphatica1ly through 1
QUESTIONABLE sent out by the United
States Department Of Agriculture
which was answered by nearly 5O(
farmers scattered over the country
The replies showed that general econ
omy of rations, the cost of grain, and
The cost of protein represent about 81
per cent of the difficulties in feeding,
These men classed balancing of ra-
tons next in Importance. Other prob
lens, such as labor, increasing pro-
duction, difficulties in %wintering stock,
short pastures, and variety and pal
atability of feeds apparently were
thought of only in connection with
the principal difficulties. That these
opinions are 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 nave taken place
in the ways of feeding animals. The
outstanding progressive step taken a
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
binations of feeds being the one most
frequently mentioned, followed by I'M
derfeesling 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 Oh protein, lack of water, lack OF
legumes, sudden changes of feed, poor
housing parasites, lack of salt, waste
Of feed, poor equipment, and o~verfeed-
ing. Practically all of these troubles
are easily p~reventable.
Almost all of these 500 farmers had
raised at one time or another scrubs,
grades, and pure breds, and almost to-
a man they Joined in a paean of praise
of the pure bred. Only l per cent of
them reported that they had failed
with improved stock. Most replies
contained specific estimates showing
the superiority of welI-bred owe ram
dom-bred animals, and rel aver
aged it was brought out hat these
consider that pure breds make
about 10 per cent better returns on
feed used than common stock. 1t is
interesting to note here that another
QUESTIONABLE sent out by the depart
ment a year ago and answered by sew
eral hundred farmers showed that in
their opinion pure breds have a gen
eral utility value a little more than 40
per cent greater than common stock.
Many Use S~elf-Feeders.
The report prepared by the depart
ment on h results of this feeding in
yestigation contains many more in
teresting sidelights on feeding and
a number of tendencies
that good observers must have sus-
For instance, of 400 who an
swered questions regarding the use of
s~elf-feeders, 41.5 per cent had used
his method of feeding, leaving about
three-fifthS yet to take up this econ
Omy. At present the Self-feeder seems
to be used mostly in hog raising dis
tricts and for poultry. In the Middle
West more than half the farmers re
used it. The general senti-
ment seems to be that this piece Of
is especially suited to hogs
and chickens, but a few farmers used
It for feeding calves and sheep.
Nearly all Of those who replied
comment on the feeding of 81
age, and practically so per cent Of
them use this feed. In the north
FL eastern states, where dairying Is very
generally followed, two-thirds Of the
in the list have silos. Al
most OF the silage is fed to
dairy cows, the list of animals to
it is fed, according to the qxes-
.ionnaire, includes also steers, breed
ng ewes, and brood sows. A few men
feeding it in limited quanti-
les to horses. hogs, and lambs
1t is worth while to note that more
han % per cent Of these farmers who
answered the government questions
farm papers rs he principal
;ource Of their knowledge of feeding
problems. Other important sources
mentioned were: Experience on home
arm, general observation, bulletins
ind books and records.