The Globe-republican., 1892-02-11
Live STOCK And GRAIN GROWING.
Alfalfa Hay IS Flesh Producing Food.

Alfalfa Hay asa Flesh Producing Food.
The Soece>ssal Labor 81 One Of Our
LEADING Dssaness Men.
Upon invitation of J. II. Churchill. of
the Zimmerman Hardware Company. =
CONGRATULATIONS representative
visited the Zimmerman farm west of
the city on the 3Oth ulr. Mr.. Churchill
was arranging to load lot Of alfalfa fed
cattle for rhe Kansas City market. and
desired that we see what could be done
with this popular forage plant in the Way
Of producing beef. At the farm We
found the cOrrals filed with cattle of
various grades and ages, but the lot tina,
attracted our attention was thirty head
Of two-year-Old steers. In the east We
have seen corn shoveled out 10 cattle for
weeks and mouths getting them in shape
for market. but never have a lot of steers
appeared 10 our eye i'm better flesh for
the butcher than did these Aud feature
in this case which makes apparent the
larger profits in this line here than can
be derived by eastern feeders who de-
pend solely upon corn is that these cat
tie were fatrened principally on alfalfa
hay. Mr.. Churchill began feeding these
steers alfalfa hay about November lSt.
and in the latter part of that month adj
cd hAn haI
this proportion the cattle were fed till
January 3Oth. when they were shipped
to Kansas city. This bunch averaged in
weight .055 pounds, and sold readily ut
$3.50 per cwt.. netting about 80. per
head. A car load Of feeders was shipped
at the same time. which which sold for
$40 per cwt. The two car loads nerred
81 .433. Twenty-eight head of young
hogs, which were fattened with the cat
tie and shipped at the same time, aver
aged 205 pounds. and sold for s4.05 per
cwt. Having raised at minimum cost
all the the grain aud hay fed these cat
tie. it is evident TO the reader who has a
knowledge of cattle growing in western
Kansas that the profits realized on this
little bunch of two-year-o.ds would make
a Missouri feeders eyes bulge out in
amaZemeDt.
There are probably not a finer lot Of
corralS and other buildings in the west
than on this place, and Mr.. Churchill is.
making it one of the best paying farm.
in Ford county. Last season he harvest
ed 800 tons Of alfalfa hay. and 400
bushels Of grain-there being 600 of corn.
700 of wheat. 800 of oats, 80 Of rye. 300
cane seed, 200 of barley and 40 of alfalfa
seed. He has in fifty acres Of wheat, and
this spring will SOW 100 acres to barley.
50 acres to alfalfa and 80 acres to cane.
He has 300 head of cattle which are fed
nothing but alfalfa and wild hay. These
cattle are in excellent condition.
Mr.. Churchill is in love with alfalfa,
and urges every farmer to seed a few
acres to be used for pasture if nothing
else. He says it il the first plant to show
itself in the spring. and the last to sue
cumb to the frOsts in the fall.
A rumOr has been circulated that the
meat from alfalfa fatteued beef was Of
inferior quality. This has been exploded
by Mr.. Churchill. who has been furnish
ing our home butchers with such beef
They find his steers make most excellent
beef. and we understand that they are
willing TO pay a handsome premium over
those bought from other parties. Mr.
Churchill has done grand thing for the
agricultural interests of this region by
demonstrating the value of this prolific
plant. which is so we'll adapted to our
soil and climate. la the eastern markets.
be finds no discrimination against alfalfa
fed beef. while feeders raised on alfalfa
are always in demand on account of their
fine. healthy appearance.