The Ordway new era., 1914-04-10
PRODUCTION OF BEEF
DRY LAND FARM SHOULD SUP.
PORT SOME LIVE STOCK.
n Farmer Can Secure Section or More
Of Rough Grazing Lands and Put
u Under Fence Problem 10
Very GrsatIy SlmpIlfied.
By PROF. THOMAS sHAw)

CBy PROF. THOMAS sHAW.)
The idea cherished by many is that
the dry land farm can not be made to
produce profitably anything but grain.
That view II not correct. 1t will yet
In many instances be made to produce
more or less Of live stock along with
the grain. The live stock will certain
ly include poultry and poultry products
and swine. For the production OF these
the conditions are quite favorable, and
the same may be said Of mutton. This
farm may also produce dairy and beef
products. but for the production OF the
former 1t 10 not 30 well adapted. owing
to the greater difficulty Of obtaining
succulent food than is found in humid
areas.
II the dry land farm is located In
contiguity to rough grazing lands. and
II the farmer can obtain section or
more of these and can put the same
under fence. the problem of producing
beef is very greatly simplified. This
rough land will provide the gra1ins
and the arabic land will furnish the
other food wanted. The farmer ID thus
in q position to grow considerable
amount of wheat or fax, or both. for
sale. and to grow in addition folders
and grain such as the animals may
need in winter and also to put them
into condition for the market when
this may be necessary. Should the
calves come in the autumn. they could
be made ready for the market with
but one seasons grazing. as will now
be shown.
This could be done whether the cows
sucked their own calves or whether
they were milked by hand. The hrst
winter both would be kept on the farm
and the COWS would receive 4 liberal
amount of food. II the calves were
given milk during the milk period
they would require supplemental meal
and fodder in addition. They would
then be ready for going onto pasture
in the spring after they had been
weaned. Both cows and calves would
then go on pasture until the early au.
tumn. The calves would then be
brought in and pushed along for the
spring market by feeding them lib
eral allowance of grain and suitable
folders. They would then reach the
market at IS months and should sell
for . relatively high price.
But should It be necessary TO con-
fne the cows to the farm. the problem
IN not % easy. The diniculty II in
finding grazing, -Aecause of the short
age Of the rainfall.
The area called for Of native pasture
to maintain one beast In the summer
season II quite too large to make such
grazing profitable on the arabic farm.
However, where part of the land n
summer fallowed the volunteer grain
on the same will furnish considerable
pasture until the time comes to plow
the summer fallow. II rye had been
drilled In the previous summer or
autumn. after the removal OF the grain.
the grazing thus furnished would be
very considerable. In some areas
bronze grass will do fairly well as pas
ture. usually much better than the ma
tive grass. In time it will probably be
found that q mixture Of alfalfa and
bronze will furnish more grazing than
can be obtained from other sources.
This system would probably call for
feeding supplemental grain food more
or less to the calves from the time
that they would take It until they were
ready for the market. But during the
one summer that they were on grazing
the amount called for daily. II fed at
all. would be very small. not more than
two to three pounds per day. Calves
thus reared on their dams should
weigh at IS months 800 to 1000
pounds. These should sell at present
prices for 8 to 9 cents per pound. for
they would be prime. Thus one calf
would fetch in the market $72 to $50
per animal. II reared on skim milk
the return would be considerably less.
but 1t would be far more than counter
balanced in the profit made from the
cream.