Oxford eagle. (Oxford, Lafayette Co., Miss.) 1876-current, 1913-09-11
Cattle Shortage.
Fublishe,I By Reauessl

in Louisiana. Mississippi. Ala
bama, Georgia and Florida, pur-
chasing cattle to be shipped to
the Middle Western markets az
either Gamers or stockers. The
prices paid for Gamers during
this period have been 50 high
that thousands OF cows and heif-
ers have gone to the shambles
which shOuld have been retained
on the farms for breeding purgo-
SEES. This is especially notice.
able when the receipts Of South
ern cattle a. the St. Louis mar
ket for the last twelve months
are compared vita those Of any
previous period OF similar length.
The receipts of AIabams. Mis-
sissippi, and Louisiana cattle a,
that market have almost doubled
during that period.
Since Feb. /. buyers from tho
farms and ranches OF the West
have been securing the Calf
states in search OF breeding stock.
A few years ago this class OF
cattle would have boon scurned
By the Western ranchman as
breeding stock. but with the
shortage OF cows for breeding
purposes the ranchers are glad
TO get these cheap cows. 10 which
they will breed good beef bulls.
Tho ali-brecds resulting from
this mating make fairly desirable
beef an.mals. Several thousand
cattle have already ocen sent
from these states to Texas, OKLA
homa and Kansas, asd sCmo Of
them arc SAID to have te1n snip
ned as far as Montana.
Recently there were perhaps
moro cattle unioaded mt one time
IN Birmingham, for feed water
and rest while en-rOute 10 the
Western ranges than have ever
been seen in that place before in
one day. Georgia and Florida
are sending out thousands Of
these native Southern cattle at
the present time at prices rang
Ing from SIS 70 S23 n head for
mature animals. \ shipment Of |
10 carloads Of cattle was recently
made from Osceola county. Fla.
IN one day. They were shipped
to Kansas via oklahoma Civ. !
The cattle were dipped in arseni- !
cal solution before loading, 10 {
free them Of ticks, aud were To-
be dipped again ON ARRIVAL at
Oklahoma City before going
above the federal quaran;ine line. I
Some people OF the South seem !
glad that these caitle are beng 4
shipped out. as the number OF
scrub cattle IS being reduced and /
tho South will get better cattle /
as . result. They Go no; looS !
far enough ahead. however. or
they would see that il TIE short
age o. cattle Is such rs To- caus q.
buyers 10 come from the far West
TO buy these scrub cattle for
breeding purposes, the chances
of Southern farmers relil!in. their
pastures with coed cattle arc in
deed small, for where are these
\ good breeding scattse 20 come
from az . reasonable price? Tas
best and most profitable way Of
getting good cattle throughout
the South Is . hse ID up TIE ma
tive cattle by the use Of pure
bred bulls, and By castratiag all
scrub bulls at an early age.
The South Is especially adapt
ed 10 raising cattle, because If
the long grazing season, tie .
enormous areas Of cheap land I
much Of which is now lying idle,
the great variety Of pasture grass
es and legures which grow luxu-
riantly on all soils. and because
of the mild winters.
II the Western ranehmen can
afford to pay Southern farmers
good prices for COWS, pay the
high freight rates to the West,
stand the losses which naturally
occur during shipping thin. cattle
such long distances, also bear
the Losses due to q change OF eli
matte conditions, and then make
money on them, why cannot the
farmer who already
owns the cattle as well as the
grazing lands, and who needs the
manure upon the soils, keep this
stock on the farm and secure the
increased profits? He can il he
will free his cattle OF ticks, in
crease the efficiency OF his pas
lures by planting mixtures OF
lespedeza, our clover, white cIo-
ger or perhaps melilotus, alsike
clover, and redtop over his pas
ture lands; and by raising more
nays and forage crops for win
teriEg his stock and finishing
them for market. The surplus
cattle can then be- fat,ened by
feeding cottonseed cake on grass,
or grazing fields OF velvet beans
while feeding some concentrate
or they can be finished in the dry
lot during the winter mouths.
For Winter feeding no rough
age has proven more valuable
than silsge, as the addition of it
TO feeding ratisn invariably in
creases the size of the daily gains
and reduces their cost, thereby
making grea,er profits. The
quality and Quantity OF siIage
which can be produced On some
OF these cheap lands cannot be
surpassed by the high-priced
lands OF the corn belt, whereas
the cos, of producing It is far less
because OF the cheap labor.