782 CYCLOPEDIA OF LIVE STOCK AND COMPLETE STOCK DOCTOR, 



XV. Feeding for Beef and for Labor. 



The following, originally written for the American Encyclopaedia of 

 Agriculture, contains in the extracts given the gist of our conclusions on 

 the subject of feeding : 



The time is long since passed Avhen it is considered true economy to 

 allow young stock to shift for themselves without the intelligent care of 

 the master and proper feeding. The most successful feeders of to-day 

 feed all stock liberally, and such as are destined for human food, are 

 fed fully from birth, and until ready for the butcher's block. But the 

 system of forcing is carefully avoided with all stock intended for either 

 labor or breeding. The object here is to develop strong constitutions 

 and ample bone and muscle, that a long and useful life may result. Hence 

 u different class of foods are used from those intended for mere fat- 

 tening. In this, again, the question of the proper foods to be used be- 

 comes important. 



XVI. Reaching Results. 



The food must be perfect food ; that is, adapted to the special require- 

 ments of the animal. Young animals ; those required for labor ; those to 

 be used for fast driving, and those ready for feeding ripe (fully fat) each 

 require different food, and, indeed, different care. 



In the fattening of animals, the sooner they can be brought up to a 

 fully fat weight, the greater will be the profit: a Aveight of, say 1,500 

 pounds for cattle, 300 pounds for the large breeds of swine, 200 pounds 

 for the small breeds, and from 100 to 150 pounds for sheep, according to 

 the breed. To do this they must be pressed forward from birth, by 

 means of the food best adapted to the animal, and marketed before they 

 become fully grown. In summer a pasture containing a variety of good 

 grasses will furnish this perfect food. If anything is needed more, it may 

 measurably be found, for fattening, in Indian corn, or meal as a supple- 

 mentary food, to be given at night. 



For young animals, working and fast driving stock, oats are proper. 

 The two first, however, may have any kind of mill stuff, with profit, if 

 cheaper than oats. In the winter all stock, in addition to good, sweet hay, 

 should receive daily such grain as will best answer the end, except that 

 corn meal, or corn, may constitute a part of the daily ration for all classes 

 of stock, since more fat is required for the animal waste than in summer. 



For dairy stock the young animals should be fed identically as for 

 working stock, but not forced, since sufficient frame- work for continued 

 usefulness must be provided. Milking stock may receive largely of 

 corn meal, in winter, and ground rye, oats, barley, or mill feed, accord- 

 ing to relative prices. 



