Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1912-06-07


In Georgfa? This is a question OF state
wide Importance in view OF the near ap-
proach OF the bou weevil 10 the from
tiers OF the state. and 10 the necessity.
therefore, OF undertaking a diversified
system OF farm practice. An affirmative
answer may be given 10 this Interrogation
Recently there was sold from the college
farm in Athens several head OF Hereford
grade steers. These animals were the
progeny OF grade Hereford cows crossed
with n pure-bred Hereford sire OF high
pedigree. Sires Of the same character
can be purchased at a cost OF anywhere
from 500 70 $50 per head. depending
on the size. breeding and age OF the
animal selected. That they will prove
prepotent and mark their offspring with
the desirable qualities characteristic Of
THIS breed has been established through
their extensive use on the westrn ranges
for the Improvement Of the native cattle
maintained thereon In an experience
covering several years. il has been shown
that the Hereford adapts itself well 70
the conditions prevailing in Georgia and
in the southeastern states generally
speaking. One need not hesitate. there
fore. TO employ sires Of this breed for
the purpose OF improving the native
stock IL ne is unable TO secure cows
which already possess some Hereford
blood II will take a little longer 10
grade up the herd l. one must start with
the native COWS but il can be done. as
has been amply demonstrated thousands
and thousands Of times
In this connection il is proper to say
that the Hereford is not regarded as
the only beef breed which can be used
successfully IN the southeastern states
The shorthorn. Aberdeen-Angus and Gal
loway among the beef breeds, and the
Red Pou and Polled Durham among the
dual purpose breeds have all given evil
dence Of their adaptability 10 this section
OF the country. The Hereford is, how
ever. an excellent grazer, and this is
trong recommendation in V favor. Then
the Characteristic markings Of these ami
mails. the colors being red and white,
make them very attractive The steers
in question were sold at So cents per
pound live weight on the local market,
and at about two years OF age brought
SIS apiece. With a little better feed
and care they could easily have been
made 10 bring $50 and under forced feed
ing could have been made to weigh at
least I.2l0 pounds each
The treatment Of these animals WtD
be of more than passing interest to all
who may be concerned in the production
Of beef animals. The dams were stabbed
during the winter before the calves were
dropped for only short period OF time.
They were fed on cotton seed meal and
corn slower and did not receive much
over two pouns OF meal per head per
day on the average with as much rough
feed as they would clean up they
were. Of course. well supplied with water
and given plenty OF yard room In which
to exercise during the day The cost
OF maintaining the dams was thus very
little and the combination Of foodstuffs
suggested could hardly have been I'M
proved upou. for there is corn fodder
available on practically every farm, ano
cotton seed meal provides desirable
and cheap concentrate well suited 10
the nourishment OF animals carrying
young when not fed In excessive amounts.
AS soon as the spring opened up. the
dams were turned on a considerable
area OF rough. billy land not well suit
"a for cultivation and which had been
badly washed and eroded through mis-
management in former years Bermuda
grass had established itself here ana
there over this area and Is spreading
from year 10 year. until all the ground
VIII presently be covered with a vel
vety carpet
When 6rst turned on the grass in
the spring a little cotton seed meal was
fed and the same was true in the early
fan before stable feeding commenced
In very dry season when the grass
is unusually short. IL may often be ad-
vfsabie TO feed a little cotton seed meal
10 the dams. and this would be espec-
faIIv true where il Is desirable TO force
the calves along more rapidly. The
meal had best be fed so that the calves
before weaving will not get much II
any OF IL as IL is quite too concentrated
70 be fed with satisfaction to calves
During the first winter Of their lives
these calves were confined for only
short period. certainly not over three
months. and were fed on dry roughness.
silaze and cotton seed meal They never
received more than one 10 two pounds
Of cotton seed meal per head per day,
and vet they made a uniform growth
through the winter season, and when
turned on grass the next spring were
in a thriving condition. During the
sumner they gathered practically all
their own food from the pasture land
Undoubtedly IL they had been fed cot
ton seed meal during this period OF
their lives. their growth would have
been more rapid and the body weight
greater on that account 1t has been
demonstrated in fact that il pays hand
somely TO feed some form OF concen-
trate on grass pastures in the south
during the summer time. and that this
Is one OF the most desirable seasons OF
the year during which the "forcef'
feeding OF beef cattle may be under
taken with proht- In experiments made
IN other sections cotton seed meal has
been found TO be the best concentrate TO
use with grass because OF its relative
cheapness- Large quantities are not
needed: possibly about two pounds per
head per day is the right amount TO
use with animals weighing 500 pounds
and upwards
In this connection il is well 10 re-
member that the summer OF 1911 was
unusually dry. and therefore the grass
was not as abundant OF succulent as in
many other years. and no doubt this
retarded the growth and development
Of the yearlings 10 some extent. When
the winter closed down the animals
were put in a large box stall in one Of
the college barns ard fed on cotton seed
meal and silage. They were allowed
70 eat all the silage they would readily
clean. up with grain ration OF two
hounds OF meal per head per day. They
made excellent gains on the ration and
tehfr coats were soft and sleek. while
the tat was well distributed over the
body. They could have been kept on
this ration for two or three months
longer with profit in that they would
have made uniform gains In weight
This in brief is the history OF beef
calves raised on land unsuitable for
general cultivation and which nature
MI