The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1927-06-01
FRANK SHEFFIELD
TALKS ON FEEDING
SUCCESSFUL REDWOOD COUNTY
FEEDER TALKS "WEDNESDAY AT
UNIVERSITY FARM TELLING
SECRETS OF BEEFMAKING,

FEEDEh lALhS WEDN EBAY AL
UNIVERSITY FARM TELLING
SECRETS Or BEEFMAKING.
Frank Sheffield of Springfield, pro-
minent among cattle feeders of Red
wood and Brown Counties was the
leading speaker on the Cattle Feed
ers Day program held at the Univer-
sity Farm Wednesday of last week.
Through the courtesy of Mr.. Sheffield,
the Gazette is privileged to give to
its readers his address which is of in
terest and information to cattle men
throughout the state.
"The object of beefmaking is to con-
vert cheap feeds and otherwise worth
less products such as straw and corn
stalks into marketable merchandise
of higher value and to maintain the
the fertility of the soil. To attain
this end with the least possible labor
and a minimum of labor is the object
of our efforts. 1t is impossible for
every man to become successful
cattle feeder just as it is impossible
for every man to become a success
full lawyer, banker or merchant. To
be a good cattle feeder, one must
possess, that natural intuition which
anticipates the wants of the animals
and so keep them well and comfortable.
eff you will remember that these
cattle you are feeding belong to the
same animal kingdom as we do, we
will have done much towards settl-
ing our feeding problems, remember
ing that the subject is worthy of our
best thoughts. There is no occupa-
ton which can be more interesting to
the man so inclined and no occupa-
ton more abused by lack of under
standing and thought.
"We find men attempting to follow
the beef game when they really want
to spend their time with horses. The
result is, their horses are always in
show trim, while the steer is given
simply their spare time because they
have seen some neighbor bring home
a good check from a shipment of that
kind.
at is not always the man who tops
the market that makes the money, but
the man wo can put the animals
in a marketable condition with the
least cost, is quietly enlarging his
bank account.
''There is on most farms in this
section of the state, a larger amount
of unmarketable feeds such as corn
stalks and straw than can be used to
good advantage especially in the early
part of the feeding operation. Cattle,
at the rate Of about one animal to
the acre, turned into a stalk field, will
make a very nice gain and also the
by the exercise, put them
selves in fine physical condition for
the feeding period to follow. Care
on hay or pasture or some other form
of roughage before letting them in the
field of cornstalks and then only al
low them to remain there for a short
time at first, gradually increasing
the time each day for about one week
when it is considered safe to let them
go, being sure to give them access
to plenty of salt and water.
GAS the feed of the stalk field be-
gins to fail, a few bundles of corn
fodder in the evening when they come
IN, is good test of whether they are
getting enough to eat or not. 1t is
also accustoming them to that kind
IF feed which is to be used. together
with sileage and hay for about two
months at the end of which time from
l50 to 200 lbs. has been added to their
weight at very small COST.
about this time, which is around
February LIST, we like to begin feed
ng a little ear corn and by March
LIST. they are on full feed although
We at no time feed more than will
be cleaned up in about two hours.
# oats and barley are available, or
both, estimate the number of bushels
that can be used and divide it by
he number of days you expect to keep
he cattle, and feed that amount each
lay, being careful to begin this feed
n small quantities. We do not care
@ feed ground grain of any kind ex-
,ept barley which is sharp and hard
md would tend to irritate the digestion
ract if not ground. We are presum-
ng of course that hogs are following
,attle and that they will take care of
Ill waste.
Corn fed on the ear seems prefer
able to shelled corn for the reason
hat the animal is compelled to eat
more slowly and gives it just enough
exercise to keep the appetite in good
hape. We eliminate the corn bundles
.bout March 1st.
"We have found bran to be splen-
lid supplement feed used in small
quantities, usually about one pound
Der head daily. Cottonmeal and lin
eed meal used to the extent of about
me pound daily, with the above ration,
makes a splendid feed. Wild hay,
lover fimothv topefher NTH alfalfa