Show oats as starting feed said to prevent bloat oats as a starting feed for beet beef cattle prevents bloat according to information obtained by louis vinke montana state college i trials were conducted with several fattening grains and alfalfa the greatest number ot of bloat cases occurred in the group fed 04 barley and alfalfa la in most cases the critical period occurred when the cattle were receiving from live to seven pounds of grain a day few cases occurred after this period had passed oats as a starting teed feed proved per ceaf cent effective in preventing bloat at havre and bozeman during two years similar experiments at the colorado experiment station confirmed these tests the plan which seems most effective among several tried Is to start the steers on two pounds of oats a head a day As the appetite develops the amount of oats Is increased until the critical period Is past then the fattening grains are gradually substituted for oats this change requires about two weeks cappers farmer |