LIVE STOCK. 



83 



Beef Feeding Rations. 



Mix a few hours before feeding: 

 Ensilage, 40 lbs.; cut straw, 4-5 lbs.; 

 roots, 15 lbs.; long clover, 4 lbs. 



The grains are fed as follows: 



First and second weeks, none. 



Third week, 1 lb. of bran. 



4th week, 2 lbs. chiefly bran. 



Fifth and sixth weeks, 3 lbs. con- 

 sisting of bran 2 parts; oil cake and 

 gluten meal, 1 part by weight. 



■Seventh, eighth and ninth weeks, 



4 lbs. of mixture in equal parts. 

 Tenth, eleventh and twelfth weeks, 



5 lbs. above mixture; bran, 1 part; 

 oil cake or gluten meal, 2 parts. 



Another method which is very suc- 

 cessful: House cattle about middle 

 of November; begin feeding imme- 

 diately a mixture of 2 5 lbs. silage, 6 

 to 7 lbs. cut straw, 1 V^ lbs. chop. 

 Mix in morning and add a little salt. 

 Increase the meal ration gradually 

 up to 8 or 9 lbs. 



The preceding systems are for cat- 

 tle finished for the winter and spring 

 trade. Cattle to be finished en grais 

 are fed in practically the same man 

 ner in so far as the rough food is 

 concerned. The grain ration, how- 

 ever, seldom goes above 3 lbs. per 

 day. 



Buying Feeds. 



As a rule never pay more than 

 $6.00 per ton for hay for feeding. 

 Grains are a good buy at $1.00. 

 Gluten meal and oil cake are profit- 

 able. 



Roots Versus Ensilage. 



Com is a surer crop and gives 

 more feed per acre than any other 

 crop grown. It requires little la- 

 bor. Some feeders, however, prefer 



feeding both, as cattle do not go 

 wrong so easily. Roots have a 

 peculiar cleansing effect upon the 

 digestive system. 



Roots tend to correct any slight 

 derangement that has been caused by 

 other foods. Roots are especially 

 valuable for young stock, whereas 

 ensilage should only be fed in very 

 limited quantities to animals under 

 one year of age. 



Water. 



Where an abundance of roots is 

 fed very little water is needed. Six 

 pecks of turnips contain about 80 

 lbs. of fluid. Water should be avail- 

 able at all times. 



Sheep and Feeding Rations. 



Select ewes with good, firm bone 

 and short, strong pasterns, fair size 

 of feet, legs straight and squarely 

 set _ under. Heavy shearers most 

 possible; density of fibre and length 

 of staple must be considered. Have 

 flock uniform. Select ram of me- 

 dium size; must possess good quali- 

 ties of conformation and wool with 

 strong masculinity, bold carriage and 

 strong bone. He must be pure bred. 



Fifteen ewes is the minimum on 

 one hundred acres, and not beyond 

 twenty-five. An increase through 

 lambs can be expected of from 150% 

 to 175%. 



Buy ewes in Autumn just after 

 lambs have been weaned. Two shear 

 ewes are to be preferred, as you will 

 know whether they are breeders or 

 not. 



Strongest lambs are sired by rams 

 one year and over. Fifteen ewes are 

 enough for one ram. If more are 

 in the flock, the ram should not be 

 allowed to run with them. 



Feeds. 



Ewes should have a run on stubble fields — not sown to clover, or old 

 pastures under middle of September, and then given access to rape or clover 

 field. If this is not available feed a small quantity of grain to make sure 

 ewes are thriving well when breeding. This is the secret of large percentage 

 of turn lambs. 



Wintering. 



Have flock in good flesh when winter sets in. Can be kept doing well 

 on clover hay, a few roots — about 3 lbs. per head per day, and a liberal feed 

 of pea straw. Feed one pound per head each day of mixed oats and bran, 

 about four weeks before lambing. Double grain feed after lambing, and also 

 the mangels and turnips to all that can eat. Roots are too bulky and cold to 

 feed heavily before lambing and affect the unborn lamb. Turnips before 

 lambing and mangels after. Never feed mangels to rams. 



