WHEAT AS A MEAT PRODUCER.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume VIII, Issue 2220, 15 February 1886, Page 2

WHEAT AS A MEAT PRODUCER.

_Yfa (Ohristchu.rch. Pros) hivvo beforo directed attention to $0 fact that tho British farmers, are availing themselves of the low prioe of wheat to utilise it for fattening stock. The ' Agricultural Gazette," by means of circulars, has been collecting information on the subject from those who have experimented in this direction, and from the replies received tho following is solected:—l. It is pi>s, siblo at the present low price of wtyat to profitably use it as food, for.'horses, cattle, and pigs. \ would; recommend great care in %> u.sjb. of vrH.dat as food for live atoik. It' should be coarsely ground and with chaff. 2," I ghoul not be afraid to feed with wheat, and indeed have, during the past bad grain season, given a lot of wheat to my cattle, but it has always been ground with either barley or oats, or both, and everything did well on the mixture, 3, I have for some time been giving my cows two parts of wheat meal, one part of bran and one part of linseed ; this mixture costa £8 3s • 4d per ton, and keeps up the quantity and quality of the milk, and the cows are looking well, 4, Wheat as food for horses. I used it for horses with rood suocssj, as. under: 1 fill a copper to about six weight incheß of the top wM wheat', then fill up with water and let i,t steadily boil for about two Hours, then put the fire out and leave it for four or five hours, then empty the copper into a tub, and uso it as required. I nevor give more than one gallon to a horse per day, and that quantity in two feeds, mixed with cut chaff and oats. Horses seem fond of it, and do well upon it, I have used it for horned cattle and pigs by mixing one bushel of wheat, one of peas or maize, one of barley, and have them ground together, With, that mixture they seem to do well. I find a difficulty in feeding sheep upon it; they are fond of it, and eat it readily when given whole. Some are apt to eat it too sroodily and not sufficiently masticate it. It thon swells in tho stomach, and soon causes death. If you grind or orack it is apt to be much floured. Ground with maize or oats, and mixed with cut chaff slightly damped, and about a pint of common salt mixed to a cwt. of the bulk, it may then be fed with safety. 8. Wheat for stock should be ground into meal; any quantity will' not hurt a pig. Do not give it to horses. Bullocks should not have more than 81b a day, though I have ; given when wheat was low and cake a high price, as much of 141b with. <>n* eighth linseed ground together to largo beasts, and 401b mangel each day with good results. I have had them blown with eating wheat, and I have heard of many oases of death; so be careful in using it, as I have bought experience. 6. 1 have given large quantities of whole wheat to sheep and pigs, either alone on with other corn and offal, but consider, the practice a wasteful one, Well boiled, and mixed with short, sweet chaff for the former, or kibbled arid well-steeped for the latter, wheat forms one of tho most, nutritious and forcing foods I have ever used. Rather than dispose of wheat at 36s a quarter I have ground it, boiled it, and even fed out large quantities of it whole.' For getting up horse* for the market, and turning them out faj and sleek, I use principally the sprout-eft wheat, with the acjdjtion ojf sowq maize and/brw meal. The propess of sprouting is carried out. by soakine the grain in waf er.fpr a short time, or giving it a few ?prinklHiea,Rt ehort intervals from a water-ing-pot-lyingitupin roundel}: heaps & or 3 feet in thickness, covering closely with tags for. some days to keep in the heat, and then turning and. lying it again wpl tip together till fit for, n?e. It is afterwards given tohorses and cattle according to requirements, either mixed with chaff alone,'or with additions of other seeds or pulped roots. Thehorse's fed with it

fatten rapidly, but they require great attention; and the addittiohfpf'a little common nitre,' or spirits 'Of Bweet" nitre, to their water once or twice a week. ■/■ Whore malt kilns or other kilns'are proeesß of sprouting may. be greatly iJ|e.. rateo bythe application of heat." >