The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1910-10-12
FEEDING CATTLE ON FARM.
Clemson Extension WOrk-Articlc
XXI.

The increased interest In the feed
ing of live stock by the farmers is
one OF the most encouraging signs
OF agriculture Is gradually being de-
veloped. Farmers are beginning to
realize that some means must be de-
vtsed for obtaining maximum yields
Of the several crops at the minimum
expense Of fertilizer, and fortunate
ly there Is no section Of the country
manently increased more economi-
caily.
The continuous growing Of cotton
on the same fields year after year
and the washing of the land during
the winter months 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 re-
moved and the value and production
of the land permanently 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. 1t is also equally as valuable
for feeding live stock. The cotton
lint and the oil contain no fertility
whatever and can be sold from the
farm without loss which means
that If the cotton seed meal now pro-
duced in this State was fed to beef
and dairy cattle and other animals
good enough to return to the owner
the market price Of the meal in the
form of milk or increased flesh, the
wealth Of the State would be increas-
ed over s5,000.000 annually and If
the manure were carefully saved and
returned to the soil. the annual ac-
count for fertilizer which Is now s20,-
100000 could be reduced to the ex-
tent Of the value of the meal. 1t
would only require a! few years OF
| this system Of farming to enable
every farmer to make his own fer
tilizer free of cost and double our
present yield and revenue per acre.
Many farmers are now endeavoring
to do this by feeding Of beef cattle
and II intelligent methods are fol-
lowed this can be developed into a
profitable business.
In looking over the feeding records
of last year we find that many farm
ers could have materially increased
their profits had better methods OF
selecting feeding and caring for their
cattle been followed. For feeding
purposes farmers should insist on
buying nothing but the best quality
and highest grade meal that Is Of
fered. The cheaper low grade meal
and mixed feed are always the least
profitable and should not be used ex-
cept at a much lower price than
they are usually sold for.
In buying cattle ii is important
that they should be of good beef type
and uniform In size, color and age.
The cattle should be weighed after
being twelve hours without feed or
water or with a 8 per cent shrink.
II they are weighed with so TO 75
pounds OF water and feed in each
animal. 1t might easily offset the
profits of feeding them.
The profits In feeding cattle will
depend 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 be fed at a loss and
one of the first requisites in success
ful cattle feeding is to become a
competent judge and be able To
make an intelligent selection. The
Agricultural Fairs should assist ma
terially in this matter by establishing
Judging classes, and wherever the
farmers OF the State are sufficiently
Interested in the breeding, feeding.
Judging and caring for any kind of
i've stock TO call a meeting, the En-
tension Department at Clemson Col
| iese VIII gladly send men who are
specially trained In this line Of work
10 render every possible assistance
or will be glad TO render assistance
by correspondence
PROF. A. SMITH,
Clemson College, s. G.