The Lee County journal. (Leesburg, Ga.) 1904-19??, 1914-04-16

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essary for feeding the stock which
may be kept on the farm.
One Of the greatest drawbacks to
the cattle industry Of the South has
been the presence of the cattle tick
that transmits Texas fever, which kills
many of the cattle and stunts others
in growth. The tick is rapidly being
eradicated, and it is only question Of
time until the South is freed Of this
pest.
The native cattle Of the South are
cold-blooded scrubs carrying a varia-
Bile percentage Of Jersey blood They
are small In size and inferior in quail
ity, but they have stamina and the
COWS produce good calves when bred
to q beef bull. Some Of these cows
weighing not over 600 pounds have
given birth to half breed calves which
have developed into 500 to 60O-pound
animals at 10 to iS months of age.
They usually weigh about 300 to $50
pounds at two years Of age when
raised under average southern farm
conditions. The half breed calves do
not fattenaout as well as calves of a
higher grade, but If permitted to grow
until two or three years of age they
finish out as very good beef animals
The half breed heifers when bred to
beef bulls produce excellent calves.
No section of the country can raise
cattle as cheaply as the South, and
the variety and prices Of feeds are
such that the animals can be eco
nomicalIy finished for the market. The
forage plants, especially sorghum and
corn, make such luxuriant growth in
the southern ATTITUDES that large yields
Of silage can be produced per acre.
The silage is an excellent feed for
wintering the breeding herd, or for fin
ishing the animals for the market.
The use of silage in a fattening ration
almost Invariably increases the size
Of the daily gains, cheapens the gains,
lengthens the period during which cat
tie can be fed cottonseed meal eco
nomically and without danger, and
results In better finish, fatter cattle
and greater profits per head The
leguminous hays as alfalfa, cowpea,
lespedeza, red clover and vetch and
the corn slower and oat straw are good
rough feeds to use in conjunction with
silage.
The shorthorn, Aberdeen-Angus,
Hereford, Red Polled and Devon
breeds Of cattle all do well in the
South. The shorthorn does well on
all lands where the pastures are good
and feed is plentiful. The COWS usual
~ prove to be very good mixers, Civ
ing milk enough for the calf and to
supply the home as well. The result
of the good milking qualities OF the
cows Is usually a good growthy calf.
The Herefords and Angus are good
grazers and will do well under range
conditions, as well as on the small
farm. The Hereford stands ahead OF
all breeds as range animal, but the
Angus have the advantage over all
breeds in the feed lot, as they finish
out very smoothly, are high in quality
and kill out high percentage Of mar
ketable meat. The Devon is slower
of growth than the other breeds, but
are great rustlers and fatten on pas
lures which are SO thin that some of
the beef breeds could hardly subsist.
The Red Poiled is a dual purpose breed
which ranks next to the milking strain
Of Shorthorns in the production Of
milk and beef. They are not as well
known, nor as popular as the Short
horn, but have done well wherever
tried in the south. Any Of the breeds
cross well with the native cattle. and
can be used advantageously in breed
ing up the scrub herds.
By the eradication Of the cattle tick,
the use Of good, purebred beef bulls,
the Improvement Of the pasture lands
and a closer study Of the cattle bust
ness. the South viii develop into
great cattle raising section, and should
contribute largely to the supply Of
meat in the next two decades. In no
case should high-priced, high-bred
stock be brought from tick-fTee terri
tory until the farm upon which they
are to be kept has been rid of ticks