Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1906-12-06
Counties of Northern Section Of
State Not Handling Cattle
Extensively
SEVERAL FACTORS PREVENT
Poor Crops in Past, Present High
Price of Corn and Losses in Other
Years Responsible - Land specua-
ton Has Injured Several Counties
Land to Be Higher.
Special to rimes.Republ,can.

Britt Dec. 6.-.The farmers of this
community are not feeding STOCK THIS
year as generally as for several years
past. The reason is not far to seek,
and is easily explained We have had
an unusually good corn crop, better
than for five years past, and many
farmers prefer to sell this corn rather
than take the risk incurred in feeding
1t to cattle. "a bird in the hand Is
worth two in the bush"
For several years past our corn crop
has not been up to standard, and much
of 1T being too poor to bring a good
price. the only alternative was to feed
it. But the falling off in the feeding
of cattle in this community was caused
principally by the heavy shipments OF
poor grade of stock from northern
states. resulting in loss to the feeder.
Many had no previous experience in
feeding during the years of l90l ana
1902, and it was during these TWO
years. and possibly the year 1900 should
also be added, in which farmers bought
very heavily of most anything tnat
was offered. regardless Of quality. The
experience in feeding an inferior grade
of cattle can have but one result, ana
that was a great setback for feeding in
this county Many sold these cattle
for less than was paid for them before
going into the feed lot. and of course
not only lost their corn and time, but
a part Of the purchase price. This was
the turning point. Many became dis
couraged and have since tried 1T with
a good grade Of stock, with favorable
results. but the great majority gave 1t
up for bad Job. When the corn crop
was of a poor quality, in order to get
something out of it, they bought feed
ers as a last resort and did fairly we'll.
but this year the tendency seems to be
towards selling the corn instead Of
feeding.
This condition OF the matter is to be
deplored, for 1t must be conceded by
all that the feeding business is a re-
munerative one when averaged up one
year with another. Furthermore, 1t
creates higher home market for our
corn, and is a good thing for the in
dustry generally. Bankers notice the
change in the subject of cattle feeding
perhaps more than anyone, for the rea-
son that there is no demand from feed
ers for funds. Back in 1900 to 1909
there was q greaI demand for cattle
money, but now there can be said truly
to be no demand worth mentioning.
The most noticeable thing in the cat
tie business is the difference in the
quality now owned by our farmers. No
scrubs or Gamers are seen anywhere.
The farmer has found out by expert
ence that it costs less to feed good
quality of cattle than the poor quality
Another tendency very noticeable is
the raising Of thei. own cattle for the
feed lot, instead of buying them in the
open market This is a safe, conserva-
tive way of getting good results and a
good price for corn. 1t must also be
remembered that in addition to the UNI
favorable corn quality several years
back. the low prices for stock and
all these conditions combined have
worked discouragement amongst the
feeders. The present prices of hogs
are netting our farmers handsome re-
turns and our county is full of them.
This community is becoming a fine
dairy country, and the number of cows
have quadrupled in five years, and our
farmers find it very profitable. This
takes much of the interest away from
feed.
We are hoping for reversal of the
rather unsatisfactory conditions of the
feeding business here as it exists now
for the rate for money is low, and ev-
erythng indicates that the present
condition of the feeding proposition will
not last.