The Washington herald., 1913-12-07
FOR Economy IN
CATTLE RAISING
Most Efficient Method of
Marketing Beef Also to
Be Investigated.
COMMISSION TO INQUIRE
Farmers Declare that by Feeding AL
falfa They Can Reduce Cost Of
Producing Pork 0ne-third.
COMMISSION TO INQUIRE

| A commission to investigate the most
economical methods OF producing cat
tie and hogs and the most efficient meth
DDS of marketing beef and pork, will be
created this winter under authority of
Congress or by direction of the Depart
ment of Agriculture.
The cattle range is vanishing. the price
OF corn rises each year, forage crops are
diverted into the manufacture of higher
food products. Argentina, with her vast
herds and broader prairies, is invading
the American market, and the ability OF
the United States to maintain a trade
balance In its favor is threatened each
year through the decreasing power to
export meat products.
These are some OF the considerations
that have forced live stock experts to
the conclusion that the subject OF beef
and pork production is one demanding
intensive study.
Five pounds OF corn properly fed will
place a pound Of meat on a hog. accord
ing to farmers who have conducted the
operation II has been found that two
pounds Of corn and three pounds OF
alfalfa will produce an equally good
pound OF pork in an equally short time.
Alfalfa not only grows In what would be
poor corn land. but its long roots make
1t one Of the most valuable agents for
turning a poor soil into good soil A
ton of corn at 90 cents bushel is
worth about $40 ton OF alfalfa is worth
perhaps half that sum.
Alfalfa Is Cheaper.
Farmers assert that by feeding alfalfa,
they can reduce by one-third the cost of
producing pork. The alfalfa effects a
double saving, diminishing the cost OF
producing meat. and at the same time
increasing the value OF land. The same
considerations apply to the production
OF beef.
The production of beef in the Middle
Western States has been made more diff
ficult and expensive within the last six
months by a continuous drought, which
was not broken until autumn. The corn
production in Missouri Valley States was.
In some instances. hardly more than
half the normal crop. The partial failure
OF crops was observed generally. As a
result many farmers sent their stock to
market, having neither surplus feed to
run them through the winter nor ready
money to purchase corn at prevailing
high prices.
The proposed commission will investi-
gate the ravages Of disease among herds
of cattle and hogs. and probably will find
that such diseases as hog cholera are
among the important factors in keeping
the price Of meat high and threatening
the United States with the necessity Of
importing part OF its food supply. For
instance, the loss OF pork each year
through the ravages of hog cholera
reaches nearly a 1.OO0. 10000 pounds That
enormous weight means a loss of ten
pounds per inhabitant. II this meat were
available for market purposes II would,
il is believed, have a marked effect on
the hog market
Germs OF farmers has been to breed cattle
and hogs that would produce meat. The
science of breeding is well understood.
The next step appears to be that Of con-
serving the stock of cattle and hogs now
in existence.