The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1904-05-31
CATTLE RAISING.
The Industry Could Easily be Made Profitable in
Eastern North Carolina.

A branch of industry which is almost entirely
neglected in the South is that of raising beef
cattle. This industry has huctuated very much
in the history of North Carolina, and as a matter
of interest, I'VE quote the following figures from
an article on the subject in the January mum
Der of the Southern Planter:
North Carolina in 1850, 221, 100 dairy cows;
in 1870, the number was 196, 731; in 1890, the
number had increased to 233, 178; in 1850, North
Carolina had 471,711 other cattle; in 1870, this
number had been reduced to 342, 431; in 1890, this
number had increased to 331, $40. In 1850, North
Carolina had 595, 249sheep; in 1870, this number
had been reduced to 463,435; in 1890, this num-
Der was 2O8,812. In 1850, North Carolina had
1,812,813 hogs; in 1870, the number had been re-
duced to 1,o75,215; in 1890, the number had in
creased to 1,300,469."
It is evident that the supply of beef cattle
in the State is now entirely inadequate to the
demand. After all the home supply is exhausted
the butchers have to supplement it with beef
from the North either dressed or undressed. Not
only could a sufficient supply be raised for home
use which would keep the money here that is
sent away to other markets, but more than
enough could be raised and exported. . 81
There are large tracts of land, especially in the
Eastern part of this State, which are scarcely
adapted to agriculture on account of the difficulty
and expense. of drainage, but which would support
large numbers of cattle without other food for
at least nine months in the year. If you pass
through these swamps you will find a large quaint
ly OF green grass even in the dead of winter.
AS the taller grass is killed by the frost it forms
a protection for that beneath it which the cattle
easily find, and it would be possible for them
to exist the year round on grass. But this would
not make good beef and it would be necessary to
feed them for at least a month before sale on
other more substantial food in order to prepare
them for the market. These swamps could be
connected with shelters for night by lanes so that
the cattle could go to the shelter each night
and thus the manure be preserved for the use of
the farm.
A necessary incident to the profitable raising
of cattle would be improvement of the stock.
While the native breed would make a good basis
for beef raising it should be improved by cross
breeding with other stocks. This cross breed stock
would probably be better for beef than either the
native or improved alone.
That a fine profit can be made on beef raising
on the lines mentioned above cannot admit of
doubt. A writer in the Manufacturers Record
of last week makes this statement:
Science experiments made in cattle feeding
by our agricultural stations and various parties
in the Southern States show that a net profit
of so to 60 per cent ON the investment can be
made by buying and fattening steers on our ma
tive forage and cattle food"
The true science of farming is to make every
edge cut, and beef raising would add another
item to the farmers income which has hitherto
been neglected. Let every farmer whose farm
is at all adapted to cattle raising consider this
matter and raise a few beeves this year, keeping
an accurate account of first cost and expense of
keeping, and then he will know by actual expert
enca lie there is nroft In it-Enhnld T adnnr