Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1912-05-28

she minds OF some that where cows are
fed on cotton seed meal the size and
vigor OF the calf may be affected. II
there are any definite reasons for this
opinion. they have not been advanced
and specified in so far as the writer
can discover. What has given rise to
this idea is apparently. therefore,
matter OF conjecture. aPd the best an
swer which can be given is 10 quote not
only from personal experience. but from
the observations and results secured
by farmers who have engaged more or
less extensively in live stock produe-
ton.
In the first place. it is well to con-
slider the conditions under which COW
carrying young should be nourished.
Cows are kept for two specific pur-
pOses-the production OF milk and the
raising OF calves for the production OF
beef. In dairy sections they are gen.
orally fed with great care and regu-
larity. Where pure-bred. beef animals
are raised the same management per-
tains, but under range conditions the
cows are often fed indiferently and fire.
qusntly not at all. When carrying her
young the COW, especially II she be
heavy mixer. is working her nervous
system overtime. since milk is the d.
rect result OF nervous energy and these
same nerves must be counted on large
ly TO maintain the system in a condi-
ton OF equilibrium which will not
only enable the production OF milk, but
the digestion and transformation OF a
sufficient amount OF food TO insure the
uniform and rapid development OF the
foetus. Cows under these conditions
must be literally fed. and II has long
since been established that the char
acter OF ration most desirable for this
A. -nnHe fwtnr q NhaTzl
amount OF protein in a rather easily
digestibIe form To withhold protein at
this time is much more Hkely 70 prove
disastrous than its over liberal use.
though both extremes are certainly to
be avoided
Those who have had experiences and
opportunity to examine the calves Of
cows raised under range conditions
where all forms OF food have been with
held during the winter season, know that
many are weak and undersizel when
dropped, and the percentage OF deaths
in an unusually severe winter is very
high on that account. No definite fig-
ures along this line are available, but
none are needed IL one has had an op-
portunity 70 make observations for him
self. and this testimony viii in fact be
supported BY all who have had any con-
siderable experience with the manage
m@nL OF EaNLAE MM4EE range G0AuANA0Ao
and without the use OF supplemental
food during the winter season.
On some farms and ranges where
winter feeding has been practiced the
results have been highly beneficial in
increasing the size and vigor Of the
calves on account Of bringing the
dame through the winter in a much
better condition. Strange to say, in
many places cotton seed meal has ben
used as the principal concentrate with
such other roughness as might be OBJ
tanned This fact OF itself is sufh-
cient answer to those who have i'm
aEfned that the use OF cotton seed meal
would in any way injure the develop
ment OF the foetus before calving and
prove detrimental to its growth after
birth Consider for a moment the con-
ditions prevailing in a herd OF pure
bred animals which have been care
fully fed and nourished on that &C
count Calves from such herd are
relatively large for the breed and &C
tive and vigorous. and this is true or
both dairy and beef breeds. There are
hundreds OF herds maintained through
out the south where cotton seed meal
has been the chief ingredient Of the
ration for many years, and since from
those herds have been produced, for
example. q number Of wOrld-famOus
Jerseys, IL does not appear that the
health or the vigor OF the progeny has
been in any wise interfered with. by
the character Of the ration used
In a personal experience in the feed
ing and handling OF cows IN the south
now covering a period Of eighteen
years no evil effects on the health and
vIgor OF the calves were observed from
the use OF cotton seed maal. During
this period fully 80 cows were under
observation in i've different southern
states. The feeding has. therefore.
been done under a great variety Of
conditions. the form Or roughness va
rying with the locality. IN all instan-
ces. however. the main ration Of grain
has consisted OF cotton seel meal. The
herds have contained grade inimals OF
varying degrees Of purity, ranging
from the native Texas COW 20 the
high-grade Jersey. Guernseys and Hol-
stems, which contained some animals
OF unusual merit were also under OBJ
servation. The beef herds included
pure-bred Shorthorns. HerefOrds and
Aberdeen Angus. Cotton seed meal has
thus been fed to practically every
class Of pure-bred beef and dairy AMI
nal maintained IN the south. The
feeding was done By several herds
men. ard the anirlzTs thus subjected TO
varied management ana a great varie-
~ OF environmentaEr conoiuons-
throughout this period and with all
the animals under test there has been
no diminution in the ssze. vlgor or
character OF the offspring n some OF
the herds the descendants Of the Sec
ond and third generation are now milk
ing and they still retain their vigor
and virility and are accounted as
among the best breeding animals in
these particular herds
seed meal has been fed in varied guam