The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1915-06-02
BEEF PRODUCTION
GOOD FOR SOUTH
Natural Advantages and Surmount'
able Misunderstanding the
Business.
By TAFT Butler.
Progressive Farmer.)

IL is aSreeu tndt lol Iiie iooe ~ V"
Is years beef production has not
kept pace with the increase in popu-
lation. Those familiar with the condi-
tons necessary for economical beef
production and with the existing con-
ditions in those sections which have
in the past largely furnished the beef
supply of the nation are also agreed
that if the large per capita consump-
ton of beef, for which this scountry
is noted, is to be maintained the
South must come to the rescue and
produce a large part Of the future
supply.
If those most familiar with the
subject are right in their assump-
tons, that the demand will continue
to keep ahead of the supply, or that
population is likely to increase more
rapidly than beef production, then
there is assured for the beef produc-
er a fair price for his product. Of
course, a lessened supply and the re-
l sulting advance in price will tend to
reduce the per capita consumption,
but it seems fair to assume that III
the future there will be maintained
such a relation between supply and
demand as to insure the efficient beef
producer, who remains in the bust
ness permanently, fairly uniform and
remuners.tive prices.
On the other hand, we must not
overlook the fact that grains, or
other products suitable for human
consumption, supply many times
more human food than the beef steer
can make from them. These facts
merely mean that the beef producer
of the future must expect conditions
which will demand intelligent man.
agement, if even moderate profits
are to be attained. They also prob
ably mean that the beef of the fu-
ture will be produced less largely
from grains, or products suitable for
human food and more largely from
the coarser feeds and those products
which cannot be used direct for hu-
man food.
The South's Advantages in Beef Pro-
duction
How do these conclusions affect
beef cattle production in the South?
Some tell us the South cannot hope
to finish the cattle produced, because
of our low yields of grains and their
consequent high price. This would
be true were it not for the facts that
the changed conditions-high price
of grains and of the lands which pro
duce them-have forced beef pro-
duction to a different basis every
where. In fact, this very condition of
high-priced grains, that are suitable
for human food, has been responsible
for the relatively decreased beef sup
ply of u grain-growing sections and
caused the nation to turn to our
cheap lands and u facilities for
forage production for it's future beef
supply.
In short, the production of beef, in
the future, must very probably be on
a different basis from that which has
existed in the past. The production
of beef on grains suitable for human
food a only be maintained so long
as the supply of those grains is abun-
dant and prices low, because of the
fact, already pointed out, that the
steer a only make from one-ifth
to o~ne-seventh as much human food
from a bushel of edible grain as this
grain will supply when used direct to
feed the human family.
Conditions, therefore, seem to es-
pecially favor the development of in
creased beef production in the South.
at this time, and there is little pros
pect that a low price for grains will
soon, If ever, take our present ad-
vantages from us.
What, then, are the conditions
which seem favorable to economical
beef production in the South?
The first in Importance is the long.
er growing season which we possess
This gives a longer grazing season,
but that is of much less Importance
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