The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1924-02-19
FORAGE CROPS
COMPANION OF
STOCK RAISING
Livestock Development Can't
Proceed Faster Than For
age Crop Production
EXPERT GIVES RULES
Tells Methods TO be Followed
in the Development of
Livestock Business

Livestock Business
Fargo, y. D., Feb. l9.-"No live
stock industry can expect TO pro-
gress any faster than the develop
ment Of the forage crops and food
stutfs in that particular locality" de
clarcd DR.. A. r. Schllk, veterinarian
al the North Dakota Agricultural col
lege in a radio address delivered re-
Gently.
The question of how much pasture
and what kinds of forage crops one
can produce on the farm will largely
determine the kinds and number of
animals that can safely be kept,
thinks the veterinarian.
The feeding of livestock is really
Il science in ITSELF DR.. Schalk de-
clared 1T is necessary TO be able
to recognize the quality in food. so
that the ratons can be supplied in
sufficient quantities. Those who are
not experienced and familiar with
feeding problems may easily make
the animals efficiency as producers
but actually interfere with their
health
If the quality Of food is of low
grade and does not possess the
necessary food elements of staIcncs,
fats and proteins, animals will G:ad
uaily lose in flesh, become weak and
l
state Of starvation. Thi. is exactly
what happens when one depends up
. on slough hay, wheat or rye straw,
over ripcned woody lcafless hays and
similar feed.
Starvation In Breeding
Starvation in breeding eve flocks
is quite common" DR.. Schalk be-
lieves I'VE often see late in the
winter or early in the spring, that
breeding ewes become weak and thin
and often die just before or during
lambing. The owner usually thinks
that some disease pest is working in
his flock. Upon post-mortem ex-
animation of these ewes there is no
ease condition, but on the other hand
is found a thin, anemic, emaciated
carcass which we must interpret as
the result of undernourshment or
real starvation.
This may happen when the owner
has perfectly good intentions of feed
ing plenty. However, upon inquiry
ant
ewes have been given all the sough
hay, wheat straw or other foods of
low value that they would eat but
there was not enough nutrition in
the feed to maintain the ewes with
the extra burden of pregnancy. This
is 4 very delicate period for sheep
ard they certainly require not only
better grade forage but some grain
feed as we'll
"Tu promote health and thrift
ness, it is necessary that animals
foods be carefully balanced so that
not only the old established food Gle
mcnts are supplied but the necessary
mineral substances as we'll be pro-
vided.
at has been clearly proven in re-
cent years, that II we restrict ami
mails rations to single foodstuff
like the wheat plant and it. different
products, which are very low in cal
cium or lime, that such animals lose
their breeding efficiency. First Of
all such animals may not conceive,
and if they do they often do not
carry their young to full maturity.
Consequently many premature births
are brought about in this way and
the offspring lost"
Lack Of Proper Food
The absence or lack of the proper
kinds and sufficient quantities of
the various mineral elements in
foods are responsible for many dis
ease conditions in stock the veter-
marian said. Good examples of this
are found in brood sows nursing
large litters of pigs, in growing
shoats and in other animals. There
is lack of lime and the bones weak
en- and soften causing the animals
to go down in the back and show
sort Of paralysis, especially in the
hind quarters.
Supplying the necessary amount of
lime in the form of skim milk, alfal-
fla hay and other sources of lime will
invariably prevent the condition as
well as cause the sick animals to re-
cover if the disease is not too pro-
nounced and of too long standing,
according to Dr. Schalk.
The mineral contents of both grain
and forage crops are subject to some
variations in different soils and To-
calities and during different seasons,
due prehaps to climatic conditions.
However, besides common salt and
lime, the other minerals that are
most needed in North Dakota in adj
dition to what is present in the ma
tural footstuffs are those of phos-
phorus and iodine.
There is little occasion for the ad-
dition of phosphorus to rations i! a
liberal quantity Of wheat bran or
middlings are supplied in ery-day
feeding. If it is found necessary to