The weekly true Democrat. (Tallahassee, Fla.) 1905-1912, 1908-01-31
BROVEAGRNT or
CATTLE ~ FLORIDA



- Ire total number Of oxen and stock
caltls n Florida on July 1, 1905, 7o8,-
gie and these cattle were valued at
a as, Ie7, which is little over 81 a
head The same report states the num-
ber 81 pure-bred and grade cattle az
foI'ou HerefOrds, 838, ShOFthorns
$685. fOns, So; Aberdeen-Angus, II;
nakInr & total Of 604, and valued az
$2I5 averaging a little over S34 q
hoad These figures dc, not include cows
kept formilk, and 80 the dairy breeds
are not reconed IN.
GAIN by CRADnJG-UP CATTLE.
A native three-year-Old steer of grass
wklQhs about 500 pounds, and would
Yield about 240 pounds Of dressed meat
worth 6 cents 3 pound, making ITS val
ue sl4 20. "a grade three-year-Old
steer. weighs about. 300 pounds and
would drss $50 pounds, which at cents
pound is worth $500, Thus there is
a difference ia value Of about Sl2 6Oper
head IN favor Of grade cattle at the
present local market price Of meat. II
we take the Eastern market for guidp
we find that the grade steer commands
sc least one cent q pound more than the
native. AZ the price then OA7 cents
per pound, a three-year-old grf Ie steer
win sell FOR more than double the sum
that a native would fetch.
COST OF MAINTAINING.
The grade herd will perhaps cost %
per cent. more 10 keep them than the
native herd, for a range that would
support 100 head Of native cattle can
only support about 20 head of grade cat
tie Ehis is due TO the grade being a
larger animal, and hence requiring
more food for maintaining and building
uD lee body, Just as a large horse re-
ouires more food than a pony.
That Il costs more 10 raise a grade
steer is no argument in favor Of the
native. There Is a profit at the present
time b keeping the native, but there is
q larger profit IN the grade. After de-
Quoting % per cent. for the greater
cost Of keeping, the value Of the grade
Is still nearly double that Of the native.
NEED OF BETTER CATTLE.
One of the best reasons for improving
our cattle IL that we might thus be CO.
abled % produce enough beef to fully
supply our home demand By home de-
mahd we mean the beef consumed with
Ia the State Of Florida. As already
stated the grade steer produces nearly
double rs many pounds Of beef, and
beef Of e better quality than does the
native. ~ Florida produced all It's own
meat itself, this would mean the keep
ne at home Of several hundred thOus-
ands 81 dollars each year, which would
then be paid over 10 the stock farmers
Of the State.
ngFROYED BLOOD INCREASES MEET
YIELD,
The native cows or steers resemble
animals Of the dairy breeds with regard
- beef production. They lack the
width and thickness Of lOin, the round
full quarter, and the thick, Well-coVer-
ed rib. Rll Of which are 80 Characters
dc Of animRls bred for beef, The beef
steer makes is increase in weight In
these parts that are valuable for meat.
The frame Of the native is small and
narrow, and though when Il Is fattened
Il makes q good gain IN weight, yet
the gain Is made IN those parts of the
body that are Of little food value, as
the fat around the kidneys and viscera.
The animal that makes the gain In
weight IN the valuable cuts, such as
the l0in, quarter, and rib, is naturally
the most profitable.
0RADNG-UP NOT DIFFICULT.
The Improvement of cattle by grad
ing-up Il not difficult. The one inn
portant point ls Che selection Of a good
airo. The sire should be a pure bred
animal Of one Of the beef breeds and
not produced from q cross or mixture
Of breeds.
The usual objection is the cost Of q
pure bred sire. This may be 500 or
$3.50 True. this does seem & great
prico 20 one who is accustomed b pur-
ehase g native bull for SIS.
IL 3 farmer has q herd OF fifty cows
the Increased value Of the 6rst lot of
c4Ivee would more than pay for the
Cnre-bred sire. Suppose that the frat
lot q calves from the pure-bred sire
nnmbgr thirty. AZ the end Of three
y1a1a the gain IN selling price over the
natIVo stock would - more than $500,
a. twice tie cogt Of thenira. This leaves
out 81 consideration the younger calves
ard Suppose that alI are cold for beef,
Nhile q reAlity ths heifsrs would be re-
taiaed % Improve tie herd.
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