FINISHING CATTLE IN THE STALL OR SHED I49 



will keep admirably in silos as ordinarily built, such a 

 system of preserving the pulp would be impracticable 

 owing to the immense amounts that are made which, 

 in some instances, cover acres of ground to the depth 

 of several feet. The amount of loss from such exposure 

 is small, indeed, relatively. The importaflce of having 

 the feed yards near to the factory will be at once ap- 

 parent. In the dry and relatively mild winters of the 

 western mountain valleys, the shelter of a grove will 

 suffice for the cattle. In areas farther north, as Michi- 

 gan, for instance, the cold of winter and the greater cost 

 of fodders make such feeding less profitable. 



The pulp is fed in feed boxes and, in some instances, 

 to the limit of the cattle to consume it. The alfalfa or 

 the fodder is fed in racks, and may be so fed that the 

 animals may eat without restraint as to quantity. Even 

 when given all the pulp that they will take, they will 

 consume, in addition, a considerable amount of alfalfa. 

 Such fattening is, in a sense, on the self-feeding plan, 

 but it is better to feed the pulp in quantities not more 

 than will be eaten up clean. When cattle are fed thus, 

 the consumption of water is small relatively, but, of 

 course, access to water and also to salt are essential. 



When grain is fed, the amount called for is rela- 

 tively small, but as the price of the pulp advances, a 

 result that is sure to follow, it will be found advantageous 

 to feed grain. Regardless of the cost of hay, grain, 

 and pulp, it should seem correct to say that for pro- 

 longed periods of feeding, not more than 8 to lO pounds 

 of grain an animal daily would be necessary to secure 

 good finishing. The grain tends to correct the ten- 

 dency to undue laxity in the digestion, especially when 

 alfalfa is the fodder fed along with the pulp. As much 

 as 100 pounds daily will be consumed by an animal 

 weighing i,ooo pounds, and, in addition, several pounds 

 of alfalfa or other fodders, but the best and quickest 

 gains will result from feeding, say, 6o to 70 pounds of 



