CARRYING CATTLE THROUGH THE WINTER 227 



under the most favorable conditions for present produc- 

 tion, it is sometimes impossible to secure an adequate 

 return from the heavy feeding of concentrates. That 

 it is very much more difficult, therefore, to secure profit 

 from feeding concentrates, where simple maintenance is 

 the chief object sought, will be very evident. 



Succulence in connection with such feeding is chiefly 

 needed because of the favorable influence which it may 

 be expected to exercise on digestion when thus fed. It 

 is only necessary, therefore, to feed it to the extent of 

 keeping the digestion in tone when wintering such 

 animals as indicated. But the only barrier to feeding 

 it in larger quantities would be the extra cost of obtain- 

 ing it. Ensilage is the cheapest form in which it may 

 be obtained, as a rule. In some instances, beet pulp 

 may cost less. When these can be obtained more 

 cheaply than fodder, they may be a chief reliance in 

 such feeding. 



While in its relation to flesh production the chief 

 aim in this class of feeding is to maintain it, if more 

 than this can be accomplished with profit the aim 

 should, of course, be to secure such increase. This may 

 sometimes be done through the abundance of the coarse 

 and cheap foods fed. For instance, in feeding coarse 

 hay or corn stalks, either may be fed so sparingly as to 

 barely maintain flesh, but should the supply be in excess 

 of the actual needs of the animals, more abundant feed- 

 ing would be in order. With these and other foods that 

 deteriorate with age, such feeding will increase the pro- 

 portion of the waste, but with foods that deteriorate 

 quickly there will be waste in carrying them over. If, 

 therefore, some increase in flesh is obtained by such 

 abundant feeding, it is legitimate to seek it in the way 

 indicated. 



Foods for such winter feeding. — Good hay only is 

 usually too expensive for such feeding alone, when of 

 the class that is in demand in the market. This is 



