The Goodland republic. [volume] (Goodland, Kan.) 1891-1907, 1897-12-24
BEE Steer AND HIS sIsTER.

BEE srEzs AND HIS SISTER.
sIueh yaIuabsz Enf0rm.iIon Coniainsd "a
seeretsry Coburn's Report
HThe Beef Steer and His Sister" is
the title Of 8 very Interesting quarterly
report Just issued by Secretary F. D
Coburn OF the Kansas State Board Of
Agriculture. 1t deals altogether, and
very comprehensively, with that ami
nal. and contains opinions from hun
dreds OF the most successful cattle
raisers not only Of Kansas, but Of ali
the western cattle states, giving hints
aud facts that viii be highly appreci-
ated BY eattlemen everywhere
In his inlrOduetiOn Dir. COburn gives
a synopsis Of the report, which con-
tains'28O pages. In this brief preface
many important facts are tersely set
forth:
I'VE are told al flesh is grass, and
the goodness thereof is as the flower
Of the field
Mature and men, cooperating, have
made Kansas q marvellous blending Of
pasture and cOrnfieId-the domain Of
grasses
an Iuxu-iance, prOfusion, nutritious
qualities, and economy Of production,
hers are nowhere surpassed; this,
whether applied 70 the corn, blue stem,
timothy, cloyers and blue grass Of her
eastern half, or sorghums, millet, alf-
alta and unpretentious grammas Of the
fertile plains and higher attitudes be-
yOnd.
9Th premier prince Of all these is
Indian corn.
From these her meats and milk and
wealth are made; from these annually,
for two decades, she has given to the
shambles alone animals having an aver
age home value exceeding So, 600, goo, or
an aggregate Of 1888, 100000; out fthese
and by these her future wealth and ali
it brings of good must largely come
AS finished product and raw material
they are symbolized in the beef steer,
his sister and the corn. To their i'm
provement, best utilization and proper
recognition this work is dedicated"
Recognizing the tremendous sig
nificance Of beef-prOductiOn as factor
in Kansas agriculture and Kansas
prosperity, the State Board of Agri-
culture, with view to gathering and
disseminating practical information
pertaining to this important subject,
has interviewed several hundred of
the men longest, most successfully and
most extensively engaged in cattle
fattening especially, in the various
counties in the state. In connection
with much other pertinent and useful
matter, the statements Of large and
representative number of these are
given in the pages that follow. A re-
sumo or average, made from a careful
analysis Of the statements furnished
by these csttlemen as to many princi-
pal features connected with and dis
covered from their business operations,
is presented thus:
''The average length of time those
who reported have been in the bust
ness of beef-production in Kansas is
10 years.
The average of the ages they recon-
mend for the castratiOn Of bull calves,
ranging from one hour to one year. is
81 days
Their recommendation for the feed
ing of calves the first winter is wheat
bran and 'sheIIed corn, or bran and
oats, in sufficient quantities, with hay
or other coarse feed, to keep them
thrifty aud growing.
"A large majority favor dehOrned OF
hornless cattle, and say that for the
fattening lot such cattle have a 10 per
cent greater value than those with
horns. Thirty reports give them a
greater value OF Il cents per 100
pounds; twenfy-six place it at sos
per head. The higher price they say
fat cattle without horns are likely TO
sell for averages 49, cents per 100
pounds.
The time required for properly and
safely changing from a grass to a full
or maximum diet is 3 days, or from
corn stalk fields, Is days.
with two exceptions, all say, extra
labor considered, 1t is not profitable
in Kansas to keep fattening cattle tied
in stalls
''FOrty-fOur per cent advise keeping
grain constantly accessible to fatten.
ing.cattle, and 56 per cent say it is best
to feed twice daily, and only so much
at each time as will be eaten before
the next feeding time
Ninety per cent say it is profitable
to grind some or all of the grain; and
the average cost Of grinding is given at
IA cents per busheL Ten per cent
say grinding is not profitable.
"ThOse who have soaked corn for
fattening cattle say its value is en-
HANGED q per cent thereby.
'Those who have fed wheat bran
with corn esteem it highly, saying it
aids digestion. lessons the quantity of
other and perhaps more costly foods
required. and hastens fatfeniDC From