Evening Republican, Volume 17, Number 238, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 6 October 1913 — PREPARE ANIMALS FOR BEST RETURNS [ARTICLE]

PREPARE ANIMALS FOR BEST RETURNS

Most Common Mistake Among Farmers Is in Selling Product Only Half Finished. It Is astonishing to observe during a visit to the stock yards how little care most farmers take in conditioning their animals for market. The most common mistake is made in selling animals that are half finished. Fully 75 per cent of all the animals sold reach the markets in an unfinished condition. This, more than anything else, is probably accountable for the common belief that there is no money In feeding livestock. Sometimes stock Is sold because grain is high. At other times the available supply of feed has been consumed before the stock Is conditioned, but more frequently perhaps, many feeders do not understand what wellconditioned means. With some feeders It is a case of going with the crowd. No amount of reasoning can overcome the Influence of that old proverb that a bird In the hand Is worth two In the bush. It Is true unless a man Is a good shot. If he has judgment and nerve he can just as well bag two birds at one shot as to miss the one. If he has plenty of feed and conveniences for handling his stock he can finish out and not sacrifice It tn a poorly finished condition to save a few bushels of corn. Whether he is feeding /cattle, sheep, hogs or horses It Is the last few bushels of feed required to get them up to the proper weight that brings the best return*.