566 IOWA DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 



No doubt some of them have a great deal of merit, but most of them are 

 simply claimed to be something to stimulate the appetite, and a good 

 healthy animal doesn't need his appetite stimulated. But if it is neces- 

 sary to do something to restore the animal's appetite, and a little stock 

 food at that time seems to be the right thing. I think that is where it 

 should be used. 



My subject said something about sale cattle as well as show cattle. 

 The problem is very much the same as with show cattle. "We use the 

 same mixtures in preparing them for sale. The cows and heifers get, 

 perhaps, sixty days of special feed, but the bulls are fed, you may say, 

 from the time they learn to eat until they are sold. 



DISCUSSION. 



WiLKiE Blair : Do 3^ou ever have any trouble with the 

 cattle's feet getting sore? 



Mr. Stodder : I had but one case, and I always thought 

 that was due to an injury of some kind rather than to feeding. 

 I don't stable these cattle, perhaps as much as yoti might think. 

 They get a good deal of exercise. The only time they are tied 

 up is in summer, when the flies are bad, and then they are allowed 

 to run loose at night. 



WiLKiE Blair : What kind of floors do you have ? 



Mr. Stodder : I have board floors, but I use a great deal 

 of bedding. There has been much trouble along the line the 

 gentleman speaks of, but I have had very little of it ; in fact, 

 but the one case. 



WiLKiE Blair: You say do not let your cattle out on grass, 

 but feed them roots instead. I can't see why the grass isn't 

 better for them — a good deal cheaper and much handier than 

 the roots. I believe it is a good plan to let cattle run on grass 

 in the night and keep them in during the day. I believe they 

 will do better than to be in a dry lot. You also say you do 

 not groom them until about ten days before show time, and feed 

 no oil-cake. I don't understand how you can keep them in 



