Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1901-10-07
RAISING BEEF CATTLE.


Emigration Is pushing westward so rap
idly. adding 20 the natural increase in
population already I'm that section and cut
ting up the lands into farms, that western
cattle ranges are rapidly becoming things
Of the past. A large proportion OF the
western beef is already being raised on
small pastures, while the big ranges, with
thousands OF heads OF cattle herded by
cowboys, are becoming a tradition The
big cattle kings whose herds roamed the
free government lands are being pushed
cut OF their lucrative business by the rapid
advaEce- OF civilization and the opening
M OF the brCSd prairie lands 10 settle
ment- The cattle Of the future must oe
largely raised by a multitude OF small
farmers
With the passing away Of free pastur-
axe on the prairies and reducing the cat
tie business 70 small herds southern farm
ers will once more be enabled 10 engage IN
the business with every opportunity pre-
scented for building II up 10 a highly pro-
ftable industry. For the past two years
there has been noted a decided interest
in the cattle business among Georgia
farmers Last fall several hundred head
a. young thoroughbred beef cattle were
purchased by Georgia farmers from near
- every section OF the state These cat
tie. direct descendants from some OF the
hest varieties OF beef cattle in the whole
country, will be utilized in grading up TO
a higher standard OF excellence our cat
tie By crossing on our present undesir-
able natives.
The introduction OF the Jersey bull and
COW into Georgia which developed INTO
such a craze a few years ago. has well
nigh ruined what strains OF beef cattle we
had in the state prior 70 the coming OF the
Jersey. As a beef COW the Jersey Is an
absolute failure. and about as poor an
apology for that purpose as the FARMER
can ind. Even when the Jersey Is Tat
and possessing good weight II does not
dress for beef In comparison with the
beef steer OF same weight and order. The
Jersey wfll take on a preponderance OF
taIlow which sells for only cents per
pound while the wellbred beef strains
give in their perfect development the
highest quality Of steak, which commands
a big price in the market
Thirty OF forty years ago the cattle IN
Georgia were largely descended from
what was then known as the English
Durham This breed OF cattle grew 10
enormous size and the cows were splen-
did mixers and gave the. richest kind OF
butter. Our Erandfathers raised steers
equal in size and value 70 the largest
steers raised I'm the west But the Jer-
sey craze has resulted in the ruin Of our
beef cattle. and now we will be forced TO
start ali over again. The Jersey fills the
place they are intended for and for dairy
ing purposes they have no equal would
not have them displaced on the dairy
farm. out I do object TO seeing them take
entire possession Of the cattle industry OF
the state and running our prospect for the
DEVELOPMENT Of a beef cattle business.
What is Needed.
Everything should be developed for the
purposes intended. The Jersey rs just
about as much ftted for the beef industry
as the highly melted race horse IS for
the drudgery OF field work in the hands
4. OF the average negro wage hand can
present no better Illustration Of what is
required than what / saw actually take
place al the Atlanta Interstate fair last
October Mr.. Sawtell. who runs a slaugh-
ter house at Atlanta. two years prior TO
the fair. bought a bunch Of graded calves
in Tennessee had them shipped down to
hts yards and undertook the experiment
Of feeding them on cotton seed meal and
huIls. His pasturage was limited. and the
feeding was done almost entirely I'm the
lot. He exhibited the bunch. then years
old On a pen az the stock department OF
the fair. The bunch consisted Of 40 or 50
head. and presented as fine an appearance
as any cattle I ever saw in the big stock
yards at Chicago. His heaviest steer
weighed. gross. , so pounds. and the
lightest 100. Mr.. Armour's agent from
Chicago inspected these cattle and offer
Cd Mr. Sawtell cents per pound on their
aeef IN the pen anu NanAeu 70 snip lHtlu
10 Chicago 70 Armour's big packing
houses. This price would have paid Sl44
for the heaviest an. 81 for the lightest
steer. These prices naturally created sur
prise when il was well known that fat
Ge0rgia-raised cattle were only command
ing from IL 20 3 cents per pound. 6eliv-
cred al Atlanta or other markets. II was
stated that our cattle were not considered
EOod beef cattle. that large bulk Of
their weight was made up OF tallOw. mus
Gle and bone. Mr.. Sswtell stated that he
would net - per cent Of the value OF his
herd. Notwithstanding his steers had been /
for two years principally fed on cotton
seed meal and hulls. While investigating
the cattle industry OF Texas during my
recent visit 70 that state. found that the
Texas farmers were growing a good grade
Of beef cattle. and tnat the average
weight Of a Red Poll. Durham or Here's
ford at y months was from so TO 800
pounds. and al two years old a young
steer should easily sell on the farm at
from so 20 $40 per head Here we find the
difference between the value OF pure
blooded or graded beef cattle and the
small. fat-legged natives. the descendants
from the Jersey. and knowing wherein
the trouble hes, we can proceed TO make
the right kind OF changes IN the future.
This can be done BY purchasing pure
blooded sires OF the best beef strains and