Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1902-05-20
EASTERN BEEF MAKING.

Il Gao GhN BEEF mANiN0.
The high price of beef is calling tht
attention of New England farmers to tht
matter of beef making, which has beer
practically abandoned in this section o.
the country. 1t may be that the present
prices of beef will not be long sustained
but there is no reason to expect very
marked decline in prices until a crop ol
beef can be produced, which will be
about three years, and there is no as
surance that prices will be lowered then
The population of the country has in
creased since 1890, 90 per cent, while the
number of beef cattle has increased bu,
II per cent. No doubt the beef combine
has had some influence in advancing
prices to consumers, but the main in
tluence in this movement is the shortage
of cattle and the insufficient number to
meet the legitimate demands Of the
market. There is no doubt but eastern
farmers can produce beef at aprotit at
present prices, but whether it can be
done at as great profit as other branches
of farming yield is question which can
only be determined by each individual
farmer for himself.
A hindrance to the production of beef
proftably upon New England farms is
the deterioration of pastures, many OF
which cannot be improved by any
practical means. Those which have not
become covered with forest growth yield
but fraction of the feed produced a
generation ago. The cities have called
for an enlarged milk-producing area an
nually and the local markets have in
creased their demands for fruit, poultry
and dairy fourfold in the same time,
and yet there is a place for beef growing
in our midst at profit. There are
many farmers that could market the
crops of their farms in the form of beef
at greater profit than they are now re-
ceiving in some other form for which
their market is already overstocked.
An important matter in the production
of beef is to get back to beef blood and
to learn how to produce beef. The
particular breed of cattle to be selected
for this work will vary with the different
localities. The great prominence given
to dairying in its various phases in recent
years has caused general introduction
of dairy blood and almost all herds are
tinctured with this blood. The pro-
duction of beef at profit can only be
done with animals bred for beef pro-
duction, and the fact that beef cannot
be profitably made from our average
cattle is no argument against the busi-
ness. 1t is generally admitted that
dairying can only be made profitable
with dairy bred cattle, and it is equally
true that beef growing can only be made
nn,,,,o1o
The production of corn and the intelli-
gent rotation of crops are as important
in beef production as in dairying. No
farmer to-day can make dairying protita-
BILE by depending upon the old de-
Perforated pastures and western grown
corn for feed, and no farmer can depend
upon these things in beef production
even with animals adapted to the
business. He must grow his corn
economically, store it in the silo and
introduce pasturage in his system OF
rotation if he would be successful. Ensi-
lage is adapted to beef production and
must be used to supplement the
other feed in this business as well as in
dairying. Animals must be forced to
the utmost limit consistent with health
and be ready for the butcher at two
years old or less. What is termed "baby
beef is made at one year old or less
and is made under the most approved
system of forcing known.
We are aware that the idea of beef
production will strike many farmers as
under New England condi-
tions, but they have generally formed
their conclusions upon the business as
conducted with cattle ill adapted to it
and under the methods of a generation
ago. There has been as great develop
ment in the business of beef making as
in any other line of husbandry. In
order to make the largest number of
pounds of beef in the shortest time and
by purchasing the least amount of feed
one must understand the business
and attend to it faithfully.
Those farmers in New England who are
doing this are finding good market for
their animals and are finding no fault
with the business compared with other
lines of farming. Their beef animals
the highest quoted price in
the market and are not to be compared
for a moment with the half-fattened
animals sold to the local butcher from
the dairy herds. We have no sympathy
with the dual purpose animal idea. If a
farmer is making milk he needs animals
bred for the production of milk, and if
he is making beef he needs animals bred
to make beef. We have no hesitancy in
saying that during the next few years
the production of eastern beef should
be increased, for with intelligent and up
to-date methods it can be made protita-
BILE and will tend to divert portion of
the farmers effort to the production of
an article that is not hampered by an
market. - Mirror and
Farmer.