70 



Taking all of those who reported the use of crushed or 

 ground corn, either exclusively or at some special season of the 

 year, or at some time in the fattening process^ or with some 

 classes of cattle, it was found that but 14.? per cent of the Mis- 

 souri feeders, 12.2 per cent of the Iowa feeders, and 22.2 per 

 cent of the Illinois feeders follow this practice. 



Soaked Corn. It will be noted that a considerable number 

 report in favor of soaking the corn instead of crushing or grind- 

 ing it. Necessarily this practice is limited to spring, summer, 

 or early fall feeding, as it is not feasible either to soak corn or 

 to feed soaked corn in freezing weather. The results of some 

 experiments conducted at the Kansas Station, while not con- 

 clusive, indicate that soaking was about as effective as grinding 

 for cattle. If this be true, soaking must commend itself on ac- 

 count of requiring less expense than grinding, either of equip- 

 ment necessary to perform the operation or of labor. 



It frequently happens in summer feeding that the ear corn 

 becomes so dry and hard that the cattle will not eat enough to 

 make good gains. This is especially true when one is feeding 

 a variety of corn with rough grains, closely compacted on a 

 hard cob. In this case the corn must either be shelled, crushed 

 or soaked. On many farms the soaking is the cheapest and 

 easiest of the three operations and is perhaps quite as effective 

 as either of the others if carefully done. Every precaution must 

 be taken to feed it perfectly sweet, to keep the troughs cleaned 

 out, and to change the water frequently. The customary length 

 of time to soak corn is 12 to 18 hours, depending upon the com- 

 pactness of the ear and the density of the cob. Toward the 

 end of a long feed, shelled corn soaked 12 to 1 8 hours is very 

 profitable and helpful in making a rapid finish or in maintaining 

 rapid gains to the end. 



Chafing Hay, etc. Many attempts have been made to in- 

 crease the efficiency of the ration by combining chafed hay or 

 similar material with the grain. Undoubtedly a ration so com- 

 pounded will be handled by the animal with less liability to 

 scours and to getting off feed, and will be masticated and di- 

 gested more perfectly and will therefore be more completely 



