Imperial Valley press. (El Centro, Calif.) 1907-current, 1913-12-29

WIN Slldgo as lHlSnef IN CalllOf-
MIA, it has been SUCCESSFULLY used in
the middle western states and is now
being tried out in several places in
this state, one company in the lower
San Joaquin valley having made plans
for forty concrete silos, portion of
which were built this year, and it is
the aim to use them entirely for beef
finishing in connection with alfalfa.
Regarding crushed barley as a part
Of the ration for feeding beef steers,
we have more definite information, as
our largest cattle firm, Miller & Lux,
has been using it very successfully
on its largest alfalfa ranches for. Sew
eral years.
Being such q new idea to many, it
may be questioned whether this is
possible for any one but such firms as
the above, many supposing that the
alfalfa ranches are run for the cattle
regardless Of the profit side, but such
is not the case.
The way it works out with this
company is not entirely from the gain
in weight, but also in the extra price
per pound that is received for the
finished animal over the grass fed
stuff, and when the two gains are
added together it brings the total gain
up to more than enough to compen-
safe for the feed at market prices.
As has been shown, those dairymen
who have been compelled to sell their
cows this year on account Of the high
hay prices, found that poor cow has.
no business on high priced hay, and
the same thing will hold good with
the range steers, for the gains that
can be made from a scrub steer will
never justify finishing him on good
alfalfa hay.
In many ways the state Of Nevada
is far ahead of US in beef production,
not so much on account Of more ia
vorable natural conditions, but be-
cause they have been compelled,
through hard winters, to rely upon al
falfa at good average prices as
finishing feed, and in order to do that
it has become necessary for them to
raise a better grade of stock.
That this has been a benefit to them
in many ways is generally known, but
it is more forcibly demonstrated at the
markets, for it is after all the butcher
who decides the quality Of the stock,
and while on recent trip through
large packing house in San Francisco
it was explained that Nevada stock
was preferable to oil others for the
reason that they are better bred and
as a result finish up in much better
shape when put on to the finishing
feeds.
The chief reason that this condition
81 L.
in California is because it became an
absolute necessity for the alfalfa
grower and the cattle grower to CO.
operate in order that they botn might
proftabl-- continue in their respective
lines.
1t has taken some time for the same
cause to assert itself here, for the
economic reasons above given, but
with prospects for cheap hay next
season, which now promises to be
normal year for rainfall, and with
big shortage Of dairy cattle it is hard
to see any reason why the entrance
of the beef steer On the alfalfa ranch
will not become Of prime Importance,
not only for the benefit of the beef
man but for the broadening of our
alfalfa market. The only thing that is
required for the accomplishment Of
the above conditions rests entirely
with the alfalfa grower, for by stack
ing next years hay and furnishing
some other feed, either in the shape
of silage or crushed barley, there does
not appear to be any reason why we
should not be able to handle next falls
crop of range steers profitably for
both the hay grower and the range
cattle man.