The French Broad hustler. [volume] (Hendersonville, N.C.) 1896-1912, 1906-09-27

d Cattle Industry iA the South.
A recent bulletin OF the Mississippi
Station. prepared by A. Smith and c.
T. Brag. states that the Farmers OF
that State and throughout the cotton
3 belt generally are slow. to realize the
benefits OF stock raising and cattle
: feeding. and that it is more remun-
Ferative than continuous cotton grow
ing" Cotton growing has therefore
been the ehief-source OF reYenue for
Che farmer; cotton is pre-eminently
the "money-crop" Of the region, and
other branches of farming have been
neglected. The feeding experiments
carried On at the station with twenty
I've grade Steers. two to 2our years
old, which were clasSed rs medium
feeders. using cottcn-seed hulls and
meal, ccrnmeal, wheat bran and hay
johnson grass and a mixture of al
fslfa and Johnson grass, I'D fur
nish quite. clear evidences that the
feeding of beef cattle in Mississippi
rs a safe and profitable Investment
and a much smore economical way Of
Ir~aintaining the fertility of the soil
ahan by purchasing fertilizers.
In the wheat and corn belts farm
-ers have long ago discovered that
the continuous sale OF their crops
could not be carried on Indefinitely
without imp2iring the fertility Of the
soil, and that they must have re-
course to live stock CT some kind to
return to the land some of the ele-
nnnnfc ~ nTan+ food fntynn Trnro - IN.
the crops grown, thus preserving
their farms in a state of productivity
more easily resembling the original
condition OF the soil. In the cotton
belt the beef breeds OF cattle are only
beginning to take their rightful place
among other farm live stock. This
Is largely owing to the prevailing |
idea among farmers that raising beef
steers for market is not profitable.
Dairy farming has many good
points of superiority over beef rails |
dng, but to farmers who are not close
to a good market aud are handi-
slapped by lack of available and
steady labor, the breeding and feed
ing OF cattle will offer man induce
ments.
That is is 4 profitable business in
h South is shown by the low cost
of raising cattle, economy in produc-
ing suitable feeds, and the ~inexpen-
=siye buildings required.
With a pure-bred beef sire, a herd
of native COWS, and plenty Of pasture
land, q farmer may in two or three
years time develop a good grade
beef herd, which will largely in
his profits and maintaiL the
fertility of the soil.
The comparison between the stable !
open-yard s-stem. while show
ing some advantage in favor of the
method, really indicates that
both systems is preferable. This
could be done by allowing the cattle
70 u in large sheds with a solid
tight floor, which should be well
bedded, and the anu all saved.
Il desired, outside yards connected
With these sheds could be provided.
so that the cattle should have some
exercise and plenty OF fresh air. One
of the secrets of successful cattle
feeding is in making them as COM
as possible.
Wnere cottonseed meal and hulls
can be purchased at a reasonable
price, they prove to be very cheap
feeds for fattening steers. No bad
effects result from feeding cotton
seed meal for such short periods as
this, and it remain to be seen
any ration can be COM
pounded exclusive Of good siiage,
can equal it as an inexpensive
feed. /,