The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1888-06-28
Cattle Raising.

Shelter tor cattle IN HlnteI ls demanu'
ed both by humanity and economy. The
percentage Of loss from cold is heavier
among Southern stock than Northern, as
is shown by Government statistics. The
food required to sdpply animal heat to a
COW subjected to cold winds and rains
would, if she we're comfortably housed,
be turned into fat or milk.
The hemanure made in an open lot is
scarcely worth the expense of hauling.
The soluble matter is mostly leached out
by the rains, and the litter placed there
might have been as we'll, or better, car
ried at once to the fields. In word,
unsheltsred stock are Improbable stock,
and indicates cruel and thriftless
owner.
In selecting a breed Of cattle to begin
with, each one must be guided by circum-
stances. If milk market is near the
Holsteins or Ayershires would, perhaps,
be most profitable. If pasturage is very
fine IA beef breed) Short Horns or Brah-
min grades might pay best. Ifon takes
no pride in cattle and intends 70 let them
"rough it," then the scrub (common)
stock is best for him. I willingly admit
there is some fine scrub specimens, but !
think the superiority ofthese due to some
chance crossing with a thoroughbred, and
they are not really scrubs, but grades.
The plan 1 adopted was to grade up
with scrub COWS and thoroughbred Jer.
sey bull. My reasons for this will give
as briefly as possible: What I wanted
most of all was manure, in order topursue
a more extensive, or to use I think
better word, concentrated system of farm.
ing. Ny pasturage was not good enough
for beef, and l could not sell milk in
quantity to pay, so the chief incidental
product of my cattle must be butter,
which is easy to transport, and for which
if it is good, there is alwaysa a good de-
mand. Good butter is worth rs cents
per pound, and if man can't get that he
either does not know how to make it or
how to sell it.
The jersey is par excellence the best
breed. Not being able to pay the big
prices asked for the full blood heifers, I
strained point and got the best bull I
could. They ore very prepotent, that is
able to fix their characteristics on the
offspring, and in few crosses the grades
will approximate very closely the full
bloods in butter capacity and appearance.
Ofcourse, they are not the breed for beet,
not being built that way, any more than
the race.horse is a draft animal; but it is
acknowledged by those who ought to
know that the general purpose COW is as
yet myth, and we must be satisfied with
one superior trait in single COW. >.
The small size OF many Jersey COWS ls,
however, owing to their breeding before
they are developed. If not allowed to
calve until three years ofage they will
make very fair sized animals, over 800
pounds in weight, and I've seen them
20 as high as 1,10O or 1900.
Before quitting the subject, which I
must do through regard tor your readers,
1 will state one fact, which comes from
the best authority. and ought to give q
boom to cattle raising if nothing elae can.
1t is this: The manure obtained from
feeding one ton of cotton seed, which can
be bought for $40, is worth s27 /; the
standard of value being the present price
of our commercial fertilizers. If this
statement be true, aud cannot doubt it,
and if it be properly appreciated and act
ed upon, it will do more to develop the
new South than all the cotton and iron
factories and railroads from which we
are expecting SO much.-J M S. in the
Wnnsboro Herald.