366 Feeds and Feeding. 



so relished by cattle as Indian corn, which is toothsome and palatable 

 to a degree equaled by no other grain. Not only is corn loaded with 

 starch but it carries much oil with but little fiber or other inert mat- 

 ter, the whole forming the best concentrate for quickly filling the tis- 

 sues of the steer's body with fat, and thereby rendering the lean 

 meat tender, juicy, and toothsome. 



Whoever studies the practices of successful stockmen in the corn 

 belt or reviews the work of the experiment stations will be convinced 

 that getting corn to cattle in the simplest and most direct manner 

 and with the least preparation and handling is, after all, the best and 

 most economical way. Waters of the Missouri Station,^ interviewing 

 hundreds of the best and largest cattle feeders of Missouri, Iowa, and 

 Illinois, found that 50 per ct. of all fed husked or unhusked ear corn, 

 about 25 per ct. fed shelled corn, while the remainder fed crushed, 

 soaked, or ground corn. Only 3 per ct. ground corn as a regular 

 practice. 



Corn is never so acceptable to the steers as when given unhusked 

 on the stalk, for there is an aroma and palatability about the ear in 

 Nature's own wrappings that every steer recognizes and appreciates. 

 Such being the case, wherever possible let shock corn with its wealth 

 of ears be thrown into the long feed racks standing in the open lot 

 or under the shed and allow the steers to do their own husking and 

 grinding. Where corn cannot be fed unhusked, ear corn should be 

 given, whole, chopped, or split, as best suits the animal. Corn long 

 stored in the crib becomes dry and hard, losing fragrance and aroma 

 thru exposure to air and vermin. For summer feeding such grain 

 should be specially prepared by soaking or possibly by grinding. 

 Where necessary corn should be soaked from 12 to 18 hours, care 

 being taken to change the water frequently and to keep the feed 

 boxes clean and sweet. Old cattle can utilize ear corn, stover, and 

 coarse feed in general more advantageously than can younger ani- 

 mals. (523) 



574. Nitrogenous supplements to corn. — Corn is the richest of all 

 available feeds in carbohydrates and fat ; instead of specially prepar- 

 ing it for cattle by grinding or other treatment, it is usually best to 

 feed it in ear form or shelled, along with some protein-rich supple- 

 ment in order to bring out the full value of the carbohydrates and 

 fat. If our experiment stations had taught nothing else, they would 

 have paid for themselves many times in showing how the addition 

 of a nitrogenous roughage like clover and alfalfa hay, or of some 



> Bui. 76, 



