148 THE MANAGEMENT AND FEEDING OF CATTLE 



than from rutabagas or mangels, and at a less cost for 

 production. This means that in areas suitable for the 

 successful growth of corn in this country the use of roots 

 in fattening cattle, in a large way, is not likely to become 

 general. Notwithstanding, there are areas, especially 

 in some of the northern states, in all of the mountain 

 states east and west, in certain parts along the Pacific, 

 and in much of Canada, where better crops of roots can 

 be grown than of corn. In these areas, it is probable, 

 they will be grown in considerable quantities for such a 

 use. as they are now, and have been for many years, in 

 Ontario. The principal question to be determined is 

 deciding on the quantity to feed, as thej^ may be fed 

 with absolute safety to the extent of 50 to 75 pounds 

 daily to an animal weighing 1,000 pounds. No real 

 ph3'sical harm would follow if roots were fed up to 

 the capacity of the animals to consume them. The 

 saving in both fodder and meal will be proportionate. 

 It is advisable to feed some dry fodder because of the 

 tendency in the roots fed thus freely to produce diges- 

 tion a little overlax. 



Finishing on beet pulp and grain. — During recent 

 years cattle have been fattened on beet pulp and alfalfa 

 hay without other food. The meat thus made is of fair 

 quality and the gains are moderate, not so good, of 

 course, as when a suitable grain complement is added. 

 But they are more cheaply made without grain, as prices 

 range at the present time. Increase has been made on 

 sugar beet pulp and a moderate amount of fodder and 

 no grain, which cost less than $3 per 100 pounds. Such 

 feeding is only practicable within a reasonable distance 

 of the sugar beet factories, as otherwise the cost of 

 drawing and feeding the pulp would make it too costly. 



The pulp in the western factories is usually ensiled 

 by conveying it to an immense shallow basin in the 

 earth, into which it is forced from the ducts that convey 

 it from the factory by gravity pressure. Although it 



