Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1910-10-11
CLEMSON EXTENSION WORK.
Feeding Cattle is Profitable II Pursued
Alonu lntelliaent Lines.

The increased interest i'm the feeding
of live stock by the farmers is one of
the most encouraging signs that dif-
ferent and better system of agriculture
is gradually being developed. Farmers
are beginning to realize that some
means must be devised for obtaining
maximum yields Of the several crops
at the minimum expense of fertilizer,
and fortunately there is no section of
the country where the soil fertility can
be permanently increased more eco
nomcally.
The continuous growing of cotton on
the same fields year after year and the
washing of the land and during the
winter, has been the chief cause Of
depicting the fertility and reducing the
yield upon the average farms. Yet If
rational system of agriculture were
followed, these conditions would be
quickly removed and the vaiue and
productiveness of the land permanent
| ly increased.
While cotton seed meal contains
practically all the fertility extracted
from the soil by the cotton crop and is
| one of the most valuable fertilizers
we have, it is also equally as valuable
| for feeding live stock. The cotton lint
and the oil contain no fertility what
| ever and can he sold from the farm
without loss which means that If the
cotton seed meal now p. oduced in this
state was fed to beef and dairy cattle
and other animals good enough to re-
turn to the owner the market price OF
| the meal in the form of milk or in
| creased flesh, the wealth Of the state
| would he increased over $5.000,000 an
nually and if the manure were careful
1 1,a Ai1 he
| annual account for fertilizer which is
now $20.000.0O0 could be reduced to the
extent of the value of the meal. 1t
| would only require a few wears of this
| system of farming to enable every far
mer to make his own fertilizer free of
cost and double our present yield and
revenue per acre. Many farmers are
row endeavoring to do this by feeding
of beef cattle and If intelligent meth
Ods are followed this can he developed
into a profitable business.
| In looking over the feeding records
of last year. we find that many far
mcrs could have materially increased
their profits had better methods OF
selecting feeding and caring for their
cattle been followed. For feeding pur-
poses farmers should insist on buying
nothing but the best quality and high
est grade meal that Is offered. The
cheaper low grade meal and fixed feed
are always the least profitable and
should not be used except at a much
lower price than they are usually sold
| for.
In buying cattle it Is important that
they should be of good beef type and
| uniform in size, color and age. The
cattle should he weighed after being
| twelve hours without feed or water or
with a per cent shrink. If they are
weighed with so to IS pounds Of water
and feed in each animal, 1t might cas-
| lily off set the profits of feeding them
The profits in feeding cattle will de-
pend largely on the character of the
cattle. The only kind that can be fed
prOfitably are those that will increase
in value as they put on flesh. The
scrub narrow backed steer can only he
fed at q loss and one Of the first re-
uuisites in successful cattle feeding Is
to become a competent judge and be
able to make an intelligent selection.
The agricultural fairs should assist
materially in this matter by establish
ing judging classes, and wherever the
farmers OF the state are sufficiently in
terested in the breeding, feeding, judg-
ing and caring for any kind of live
stock to call a meeting, the extension
department at Clemson college Will
gladly send men who are specially
trained in this line Of work to render
every possible assistance or will be
glad to render assistance by CORES
pondence. Prof. A. Smith,
Clemson College, S. c.