The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1900-05-15
Live Stock.
LIVE STOCK PROBLEMS.

DCI1lNlIy LlGOC OOSNADAONA " g-OAO1'
place in the economy of the world
We read of fOcks and herds COnsti
tuting the wealth of the Israelites
and the people of the great East
Pastoral husbandry is today ever
more important than in the olden
days. This is emphasized by the
scarcity of animal products and the
high prices commanded by the meats
from the dOmesticated animals. Few
forms of agriculture Ire o re-
munerative than animal huSbandry.
This becomes apparent when we con-
slider the rapid, natural increase in
our herds and focks. Legend says
three COWS and a bull landed in South
America in 1856, became wild and
were the p~rOgenitOrs of the count
less herds of the Pampas. The tenn
ing population of the world is today
more dependent than ever on animal
food for subsistence and for the sue
cesSful prosecution of all industries.
ICIlllCoSCC 10 1OI llLIlIlS III PS''"NSNAL1S
a great variety of grasses and forage
plants adapted to the feeding Of live
stock. This being true, is it not sur
priSing that we shOuldin thousands
of head of beef cattle annually ship
ped from this State to be fattened
where beef cannot be made as cheap
~ as in Tennessee. Dairy COWS 7
shipped from this State by the car
load to supply the depleted markets
of other States. At the same time,
milk and butter are bringing first
class prices within the State and +
in great demand. When we consider
that these COWS are sent from Ten
nessee to adjoining States, that the
dairymen there can pay the freight
on them, allow the dealer a reason
able profit, make butter and cheese
from them, and send the product
back into Tennessee the folly of this
practice will be appreciated.
The facts should be sufficient to set
III farmers to thinking about these
things, and should bring home to
them forcibly the Importance of de-
veloping these resources with which
nature has so wonderfully endowed
u State. Surely we do not realize
what u valuable possession these
grasses and forage crops are, or we
would fatten our beef and make our
butter and cheese at home.
How has this strange condition
to be attributed to the failure
to grow grasses. AS a matter
Of fact, we possess all the natural
advantages for the production Of
cheap beef and dairy products. First,
WE have the food stutfs we have a
country especially adapted for pas
lures, which always produce the
cheapest beef and milk. We are
conveniently situated with regard
to markets, hat is, we Il reach
them as cheaply and as quickly as
can be done from the strongest COM
peting States. In one particular we
are seriously handicapped, and that
is the need of improved stock.
Most of Us are aware of this cOndi-
ton. The remedy is in our hands,
and we trust the wedding knife will :
be vigorously applied and that
that new blood of an improved type
be largely introduced into our herds.
The cost of feeding the dairy COW
or the beef animal in Tennessee will
vary from 100 to 2Oq per day, In
one case we may expect two to three
gallons of milk, worth 2Oe to 25c d
gallon, and II to 2 lbs. of butter,
worth 2Og to 25g a pound; while in
the other, from ~ to ~ TBS. of beef
will be an approximate gain. These
figures should suffice to convince us
of the money in these industries.
A suitable ration for a dairy COW
would be 80 lbs. of silage, 10 Tbs of COW
pea or clover hay, 3 Tbs. of corn meal,
2 lbs. of cotton seed meal, and lbs. of
bran.
For young growing stock we may
use silage, 20 to 30 lbs. cowpea or
clover hay, 10 TBS. section seed meal,
1 ID. bran, 1 tb. cOrn meal, 2 lbs.
Or if the farmer has oats, these may
be substituted for cotton seed meal.
1t may be necessary to increase the
meal ration to 6 BIS, depending on
the amount Of growth or,fat desired
and the age of the animal. Where
cannot be had, shredded corn