The independent-reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1909-1955, 1923-07-19

However, IOr pest results, the cows
should receive some straw or cheap
hay in addition as shown by expert
ments conducted by the. Pennsyl-
vania Agricultural Experiment Sta
ton.
other rations made up entirely OF
homegrown feeds are.
Ration /.
Is pounds corn silage,
pounds clover or Alfalfa hay,
10 pounds oats straw.
Ration 2.
10 pounds corn stover.
) pounds clover or Alfalfa hay,
10 pounds oats straw.
In a publication from the United
States Department of Agriculture,
utilization OF farm wastes in feed
ing livestock, S. II. Ray. United
States Department of Agriculture,
Farmers Bulletin S73.) the following
rations for wintering beef breeding
COWS are given:
10 pounds straw
20 pounds s1age
pound cottonseed or Hnseed meal
Ration 2
20 pounds straw
2 pounds cottonseed or oil cake
Ration
10 pounds straw
10 pounds shock corn
pound cottonseed or linseed meal
Ration
80 pounds slower
/ pound cottonseed or linseed oil
meal
Cattle fed on corn silage come
through the winter at less cost and
in better condition than those fed on
marketable roughages. The beef
herd affords means of utilizing un-
marketable roughage, large amount
Of which is wasted each year in New
England due to rains at haying time
and to the fact that fodder and bean
pods are not in suitable form for
market. Not only should the feeds
used be home grown, except the pro-
tein supplement, but the ration
should be so simple and free from
completely that 1t can be easily pre-
pared and placed before the cattle.
with the least labor. No skilled labor.
is required in this system of man
agemeDt, and one man can feed and
care for a large herd Of beef cows
with the ordinary equipment found
on practically any New England
farm.
The calves should be weaned as
soon as the cows are taken Off pas
ture. During the winter the cow
.,.l H. ~ ~ l.
tire feed to "a the maintenance of
her own health and vigor, ca the pro-
duction Of strong fetus, and 90 the
storing up of energy to be used in the
production of her future milk sup
ply. II the cow goes into winter
quarters in good condition and is
properly fed, she should gain about
one-baK pound day during the
winter. This gain Is not fat, but Is
due to the development of the fetus
she Is carrying. The amount of feed
given. per day should be regulated
according to the condition of the cat
tie. When they are found to be los
ing weight on ration, the amount of
fattening feed should be increased
and the straw or other cheap rough.
age low in food value should be de-
creased.
In the case Of extremely poor feed
or sudden severe weather or other
conditions affecting the cattle, 1t may
be necessary to feed small amount
of grain, but with rations such as
those recommended this should not be
necessary.
CALVES DURING THE FIRST
WINTER
Since the calf is weaned at the
beginning of the first winter, par
ticular care should be exercised to
see that 1t receives some grain be-
fore weaving so that the change does
not stunt 1t. The ration should con-
sist largely of leguminous hay and
grain. Silage may be fed in place of
large proportion of the hay and
grain, but In this case some protein
supplement, such as cottonseed or
linseed meal. must be added to the
ration. Many breeders allow the
calves to run with the cows up to
within two months of the time OF
calving with good results. This,
however, Is a strain on the cows,
especially IL they have been bred DUR
ing the first heat period after calving.
Purebred calves that are to be re-
tanned in the herd or that are to be
sold for breeding purposes should be
taught to lead and should become
accustomed to being handled. Pure
BREEDS that are to be sold to breeders
should be kept in fit condition for in
speotion at all times, and any ami
mails that are misshapen or not
thrifty should be gotten rid Of.
Bulls and heifers should be separ-
ated before going into winter quar-
ters, or II possible before that time
to. prevent heifers being bred too
young.
Cattle that are to be marketed as
baby beeves should be fed more grain
than those kept for breeding pur-
poses. They need not be taught to
lead or to be handled.
Cattle that are to be sold at two
years of age as feeders do not re-
quire the care that breeding animals
or baby beeves do, They are usually
"roughed" through the winter on
cheap feeds, such as unmarketable
lesuminous hay or corn silage and
straw with some protein in the form
of protein supplements or roughage.
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