Dodge City times. [volume] (Dodge City, Kan.) 1876-1892, 1883-10-04
The Future Supply OF Beef.

some months ago q ScQSalIOudI dltA-
Gle appeared in New York paper on
the future supply of beef in this coun-
try. 1t showed that the possible limit
of beef production had been nearly
reached in many of the States, and
that in some of the. Territories thereiwas
not sufficient forage to properly sup
port all the cattle now within their
borders. 1t predicted that in a near
future beef would become so scarce
that it would rank as luxury that only
the rich could afford. Then the same
state of affairs would exist here which
exists in some European countries. The
common people would be obliged to
give up eating beef and be content with
cheaper articles of food. 1t certainly is
likely that most kinds of food will be
higher in the future than in the past,
but there seems to be no probability that
the price of beef Will be out of proper
ton with other kinds OF food. 1t is GER
tain that the limit of beef production
has not been reached in many sections
of the country. The production of beef
for the market has just began to re-
ceive attention in most of the Southern
States. Till very lately cattle received
only secondary consideration. As rule
only natives were kept, and they
were often left to pick up their food as
best they could. The production Of
forage crops was neglected, and but a
small amount of corn and other grains
suitable for stock food was raised. Cot
ton-seed was thrown into heaps. and
burned or left to rot. At present all
this is changed. Better breeds of cat
tie have been introduced; more atten-
ton is given to the production of for
age crops. and the cotton-seed is used for
stock food.
The limit of profitable beef produc-
ton has not been reached in the New
England States. The introduction Of
the silo and the preservation of fodder
corn in the form of ensilage have ena-
bled some farmers to double the num-
Der of cattle kept on their places. Their
example will be followed by other farm
ers in the future. The limit of beef
production has not been reached in the
States where the most beef has been
produced. Illinois has never contained
cattle enough to eat all the stock-foOd
it produced. Until very recently a large
proportion Of the straw produced has
been burned, while most of the corn
fodder has been wasted. Cultivated
grasses and clover have not been gen
orally introduced into one-fourth the
State. Scarcely any attention HAS been
given to the production of turnips and
other roots that do so much toward pro-
ducing the beef of England The large
amount of tlax-seed meal or oil-cake
produced has been sent to feed herds in
the old country. Till lately large pro-
portion of the cattle kept have been
scrubs" which gave no good return
for the food they deyoured. Every year
more attention has been given to the
improvement of cattle intended for
beef, and, as consequence, more meat Is
produced for an equal amount of food
eaten. Every year more attention is
given TO saving straw and corn-fodder,
and to feeding them to stock in judi
cious manner Many swamps and Dogs
are being drained and made to produce
enormous quantities not only of valuable
grass but of corn and small grains suit
able for stock food. Cattle have better
protection during the winter; and, as
consequence, they require less food. A
more judicious system of feeding is
practiced, which produces better re-
suits.
The attention that has been given to
vhe early maturity of cattle has resulted
in greatly increasing the amount OF
beef. A few years ago large proper
ton of the bullocks designed for the
market were not slaughtered till they
were five or six years old. In many in
stances they did not sell for enough tC
pay for half the food they had consumed.
Now most stock-raisers turn off their
cattle when they are three years old,
and there is strong disposition to pre-
pare them for the market at a still ear
Iier age. This change in management
has on some farms almost doubled the
amount of beef produced. Improve
ments in the quality of stock, in build
ings for the protection of animals, and
in the manner of feeding are now going
on faster than ever before. and the re-
suit will be more and better beef. CHI
cago Times.