The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1902-03-04
Live Stock and Dairy.
BEFF PRODUCTION IN THE SOUTH.
The First Of q Series Of Articles by DR.. TAFT
RutIer, State Veterinarian.

/,
The First Of q Series Of Articles by DR.. Tai
Butler, State Veterinarian.
Correspondence Of The Progressive Farmer.
There gre three essentials so profit
able beef production; suitable feed
srs-men, suitable cattle and suit
able foods. 1t is the purpose of this
article 30 briefly discuss each OF
these three essentials in the hope OF
stimulating or helping some one to
more intelligent and active efforts In
this important part of agriculture.
THE FIRST TASK BEFORE Us.
Unfortunately, good cattle and
skiIlful feeders are extremely scare
in this part of the South, and before
we may hope TO attain the highest
success in beef production the cattle
must be bred and the feeders edu-
GATED.
The breeding and feeding of live
stock requires discriminating judg-
ment, close observation and a keen
intelligence TO grasp the intricate
problems involved. The successful
stock breeders of a country constitute
one of the most intelligent GLASSES of
it's population, and the business may,
therefore, justly claim and com
mand the attention of the very high
est minds among the rising genera
ton of farmers. 1t is the boys that
will have 80 be educated. "It is
hard TO teach an old dog new tricks"
and therefore, little need be expected
from a generation of farmers sohoOled
in other lines.
STOCK RAISING ESSENTIAL TO PROFIT
ABLE AGRICULTURE.
That no system of agriculture can
ever be permanently successful
which does not include a large share
of animal husbandry is too we'll estab-
lished to demand further discussion.
In fact, so far as North Carolina is
concerned, live stock husbandry is
no longer merely desirable, but an
absolute necessity.
$4,000, 900 LOSS TO NORTH CAROLINA.
The cotton seed meal annually
used in commercial fertilizers by
this State is worth more than 3d.
600, 900 as cattle feed. If used as
such this amount would be saved
and still 80 per cent. of it's fertilizer
value retained on the farms.
In these days of forced economy in
all lines of production, we cannot
continue with impunity TO waste
81, OOO, 900 annually in one single
item of our agricultural system. We
must learn the lessons of the times
We must catch the spirit of the age.
We must educate along live stock
lines. As a certain writer has said
the Agricultural College no longer
needs help from the State it is the
State that needs help from the Agri-
cultural College.
EDUCATION.
An appropriation of $4,000 TO &c.,
900 a year for the next ten years
should be made for properly equip
ping our Agricultural College with
this stock and other facilities for
teaching animal husbsndry, not be-
cause the college needs it, but be
cause the rising generation on the
farms needs the education. Live
stock is as essential TO the teach
ing of animal husbandry as a forge
to the learning of blaoksmithing. To
actually see and feed typical animals
of the different breeds is the only
possible way to learn the live stock
business. The foundation of all sue
cess in breeding and feeding is a cor
rect knowledge of what constitutes
q hrst-olRss animal. No man can
have such knowledge until he has
seen and studied such animals.
Will the State provide the facili
ties for this education? Will the
young men of the farms recognize
and appreciate the necessity for
such education? When these ques
tions are answered in the affirmative
then will the first essential to sue
oessful live stock husbandry have
been acquired.
The second essential to the profit
able production of beef is
FIRST CLASS CATTLE.
A consideration of this question
always brings up the question of the
relative merits of the So called gen
eral purpose breeds and the special
beef and dairy breeds. Is is a "ghost'