194 MISSOURI AGRICULTURAL REPORT. 



We try to liave our two-year old heifers approach calving time in 

 very strong flesh, and by constantly growing them from birth this can 

 be accomplished with little or no risk, and right here let me say that the 

 best way I know of to produce thick-fleshed cattle is by giving them the 

 habit cultivated through sire and dam from generation to generation. 



Every man has his fads, and this feeding question is one of mine, 

 and one that in my judginent has been more disastrous (not however 

 that of feeding but lack of feeding among breeders of pure-bred live 

 stock) than any one thing connected with the business. 



Did you ever have any one admire or compliment you on the pro- 

 duction of an animal that is so thin in flesh that it must walk twice in 

 the same place to make a shadow? Is it not always the fattest animal 

 you have that sells first? 



The first season that a young cow nurses a calf is, in my judgment, the 

 the time they require the most care. Take the heifer through this period 

 in good flesh and you will have no trouble in the future to retain that 

 condition ; on the contrary, allow the heifer to grow thin and emaci- 

 ated during this period and you will always have a thin, poor cow. I 

 try to give to each cow about three months of rest between nursing and 

 calving, and for this purpose I reserve the most quiet, coolest and 

 coziest pasture on the farm, not one with grass over which the cow must 

 work the greater part of twenty-four hours to gain a living, but with 

 grass to their knees, so that they can soon fill and lie down in peace and 

 comfort, and by calving time they are usually quite fleshy and prepared 

 to do their part in raising their offspring. 



I do not know how successful other breeders are in having their 

 cows produce calves within the twelve months, but about eighty per 

 cent is for me an average. 



Our herd bulls arc never allowed to run with the cows, but every 

 cow goes to the barn for service, and is kept by themselves for several 

 hours thereafter or until they are sufficiently quiet to return to the herd. 

 Tlie bulls are given the run of the paddock each day in winter and a 

 good grass lot all of the nights in summer, and in case a bull is not dis- 

 posed to exercise enough, as they sometimes will be, he is made to 

 take it by being led at least a mile every day. I think a great portion 

 of the trouble breeders have with bulls in high condition is owing to 

 lack of exercise. Give them plenty of it and flesh will never hurt him 

 if put on with proper feeds. I prefer keeping my herd bulls almost 

 ready for the show the year around, as I am a firm believer in the 

 adage of that veteran showman. Uncle Tliomas Wilhoit, "Thick- 

 fleshed cattle produce thick-fleshed cattle." 



But T hear someone say, "Oh, I can't aflfonl to keep my cattle in 



