FATTENING RATIONS FOR MATURE RUMINANTS 195 



per 1,000 pounds live weight, or only 5 to 10 pounds for fattening ani- 

 mals in order to keep the appetite keen) and the cheaper root crops and 

 tubers (beets, carrots, beet pulp, brewers' grains, slops, potato fiber, 

 molasses, lupines, etc.) are supplemented with the deficient nutrients in 

 the form of concentrates. 



Pasturage alone, as a rule, will not complete the fattening process, but 

 it constitutes an excellent preparatory period. Some dry feed adminis- 

 tered before driving the animals out to pasture is a wise precautionary 

 measure for preventing digestive troubles. Furthermore, the feed fur- 

 nished by the pasture should be supplemented with a suitable by-feed. If 

 the pasture consists of clover, alfalfa, serradella, vetches or other plants 

 rich in albumen, the by-feed should consist of feeding stufifs rich in fat 

 and starch, like cracked grains, rice feed meal, dry beet pulp, etc., while 

 forage like corn, timothy, orchard grass, sorghum, millet, etc., should 

 be supplemental with nitrogenous concentrates like oil cake, cracked peas 

 or beans, dried brewers' grains and dried distillery slops. 



The water content is an important consideration in the fattening ra- 

 tion. Rations for sheep should contain about 2 or 3 parts of water 

 (either in the form of drink or as water content of the ration itself) and 

 cattle 3 or 4 parts. Care should be observed that animals do not take 

 more water with the feed than the total required. Even the minimum 

 amount required should not all be taken with the feed. If circumstances 

 are such that very watery feeding stuffs must be used, sufficient dry 

 matter should be given in addition. 



At all times efforts should be made to keep the appetite at its best, 

 i. e., provide palatable and agreeable feed. Palatability can be increased 

 by careful preparations of the rations, proper combinations and special 

 condimental feeding stuffs. Molasses is a corrective of this nature and a 

 valuable nutrient besides. Common salt is also useful (50-80 gm. = 1/^ 

 to 3 ounces). 



Fattening animals should be kept contented, comfortable and free from 

 excitement of whatever kind (irregularity in feeding, poor or irregular 

 supply of litter, rough handling, annoyance by other animals, etc.). 

 Every unnecessary muscular effort or nervous excitement tends to reduce 

 the fattening effect of the feed. The comfortable and contented animal 

 helps the feeder reduce his feed bill. 



Stable conditions are also of influence; the manner of securing the ani- 

 mals, light supply, temperature, etc. Animals should be so stabled that 

 rest is made compulsory and annoyance next to impossible. For this 

 reason box stalls are less suitable than those of other pattern. Stalls 

 for fattening animals should be kept comparatively dark. This reduces 

 tissue waste and inclines animals to be more restful. The external tem- 

 perature has a decided influence on the appetite. Highly fed ruminants 

 create more heat than is necessary to keep them comfortable at ordinary 

 temperatures. The excess temperature, above a certain point, no longer 

 serves the purpose of saving fuel. Overheated animals instinctively eat 



