The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1877-11-17
ShOrt-HOrn Breeding and Feeding.

and at their meeting last winter reports
were given of not less than sixty herds of
thoroughbreds in the State, located in half
that number of counties Of course the
bluegrass region, of which i have be-
fore spoken, is the home of the princi-
pal herds and their owners, but extending
that region fartherup and down the Scio-
to Valley, so as to include Delaware and
Ross counties with those before men
toned.
In visit to this section the past month,
| had conversations with anumber of the
short-horn breeders, including T. G.
Jones, of Delaware, President of the as
ISOLATION, and ]. OBJ. Renick, of Frank
lin County, VicePresident. My object
was to learn about the present condition
and prospects Of Durham cattle farming,
and especially to get the opinions of
these men in regard to the business of
breeding and feeding beef cattle in Ohio
for the shipping trade to Europe-for
l was not satisfied with the belief that
was expressed to me in Madison Coun-
ty, and contained in my bluegrass arti-
Gle of July 10, that the cattle-feeders
of this region could not protitably COM
pete with those of the Western States in
this business. was therefore gratitied
to find both of these gentlemen firm in
the conviction that this business of ship
ping beef to Europe would shortly cause
quite revival of cattle-feeding in the
grazing districts of Ohio, and that ii
would especially increase the demand for
oh rt hpr CT &c 1r
the best class of beef that the shippers
will buy; and by means Of high-grade
Durham steers, such as can be easily
bred in Ohio, the business of feeding
could be made as profitable as any other
kind of farming.
Your readers have seen, within a few
months past, notices of the visit to this
country of a gentleman from Edinburgh,
sent here by the proprietors of the Scots
man, leading daily newspaper of that
city, for the purpose of investigating the
question as to the permanent and profit
able export of beef from this country to
England, as matter of considerable mo-
ment to Scotch agriculturists. This COM
missioner is a thorough Scotchman, as
his name (McDonald) implies; man of
broad intelligence, and withal critical
Judge of beef cattle, and skilled in the
arts of breeding and feeding. He has
spent some time in observing the pur-
chase of beef for shipment at New York
and watching the arrivals of cattle from
different sections of the West; then,
commencing tour westward, he visited
Central Ohio, and of course found a con-
genial spirit in Judge Jones, of Della
ware, who in his turn was both amuse d
and edited by the shrewdness and in
telligence of his visitor. After compli-
menting the Judges thoroughbreds, and
giving him a few hints On breeding for
beef mainly, he looked at few thrifty
grade steers coming thirty months old,
and designed for shipping this fall, and
pointing at one that suited his critical
eye, he exclaimed: "There's the bonny
haste for YEP
He said the cattle farmers of this coun-
try need to learn that none but first class
beef will pay for shipping to Europe; and
the style of cattle wanted for that pur-
pose is such as are best produced by
high grade short-horns with continuous
good feeding, so as to keep them grow
ing thriftily until about two and half
years old, when they should weigh not
less than 1900 pounds, which they will
easily do if given such feed and pasture
as this bluegrass and corn region af
fords. The chief secret of profit is i'll
the avoidance of feeding over the winter
after the animal is two years old, which
of course cannot be done with the COM
mon breed of stock; and with even a
whole years additional cost of feeding
the animal is not often suitable for the
export trade.
Here, then, is the lesson which our cat
tlemen are beginning to learn, and which
those who reduce it to practice will no
doubt find advantageous. At the meet
ing of breeders before referred to, Mr.
Hagerty spoke of the advantages of good
feeding, and said he considered it essen
tial to the proper development of the
short-horns. He was proud of the i'm
provement that had been made and is
still going on. Our steers now go at two
and half years old, and at much larger
prices than they used to at four or five.
Mr. Renlck told me, from his long eX-
perience, that all this is true, and that
with the present and prospective prices
for beef cattle there is large chance
for profit in breeding and feeding grade
steers for the shipping trade, if done in
the manner above suggested. With
good milking COWS, selected from COM
mon stock and thoroughbred bulls, he
would have the calves come in March or
April, let them suck all they will the first
week, then, for the summer, half the
cows milk, and he addition of little
corn meal, or ground provendeB will
keep the calf in good order, while the
other half of the milk will pay the cost
of keeping the cow Inwinter, the feed
ing of calves should be well kept up,
using some hay and corn meal, or scalded
cut feed, as may be preferred. In the
Scioto Valley corn and corn fodder are