St. Tammany farmer. [volume] (Covington, La.) 1874-current, 1915-03-13
THE PRODUCTION OF BEEF IN
THE SOUTH.
(By F. Bachemin)

(By F. Bachemin)
In the United States three decades
ago the beef industry was growing
very rapidly. The western country
was used as free range and enor-
nous herds of cattle were springing
up all over the west. Then, too,
the States which now comprise the
corn belt were grazing many cattle.
The business expanded and fiourished
until the early nineties, when prices
began to drop of and the industry
to decrease until many OF the large
ranches of the west we're broken up.
The period from 1892 to 1900 was
ahard one for cattlemen, and cattle
other than milk cows decreased TO-
100000 heads.
When the prices of cattle fell SO
low during the period of 1S93-1S96
many of the farmers through the
middle west began to reduce the size
of their herds. Wheat and corn be-
came the staple crops, and they were
given far more attention than were
cattle. The price of land through
out this section began to increase
very rapidly and as a consequence
the herds of cattle of much of it d.
minished in size. With the advance
of land values immigrants kept push
ing farther west, and the settlers,
homesteaders and sheepmen began
crowding the cattlemen farther from
the good grazing lands to the less
desirable sections.
The production of beef was dis
couraged and retarded not only by
the low prices and the decrease OF
breeding stock, but also by the cut
ting up of ranges, the increased valu
ting up of ranges, the increased value
of farm lands, and the prevailing
prices paid for grain. The price OF
cattle did not keep pace with the
price of other commodities.
There has been much discussion
about methods Of increasing the sup
ply of beef and many remedial meas
ures proposed, among which the one
most frequently discussed is the pass
ing of laws in all the states making
1t a crime to slaughter any female
cattle under three years of age. This
is not feasible at the present time,
as it would work hardship on many
a small farmr who could not keep all
of his females until three years of
age, and it woul be q greater handi-
cap to- the dairyman who breeds his
cows primarily that the milk supply
may be kept up and not for the value
Of the calf produced. He can feed a
calf for few weeks andsen it for So
or SIT for veil, which, II kept, would
not make a desirable beef animal,
nor one suitable for breeding pur-
poses. One measure which has been
advocated would probably come near
er to inducing the farmer to keep his
calves than any other, and that would
be- to exempt all female cattle from
taxation for q period of years. The
plan which should be followed, how
ever, should not be to deprive the
public of veal, but to stimulate the
production of cattle SO that the pub
lie demand may be satisfied, be it for
beef or veal.
There is an urgent demand for
more cattle, but whore are they to
come from? Not from the corn belt,
where the land is worth from SIS
to $500 per acre and corn has adj
vanced from Is to so cents or more
per bushel; not from the ranges Of
the west and southwest, for the sup
ply OF cattle from these sections is
decreasing yearly and the large
are being cut mp for the
homesteaders and the small farmers,
who are not giving their attention to
beef production.
Possibilities Of the South.
There is one section that, can pro-
duce more cattle, and produce them
more cheaply than any OTHER section
Of the whole country, for the lands
are still cheap. the grazing is good,
the pasture season 10 long, feeds can
be- produced at q minimum cost, and
shelter only r. required.
That section Of the country 10 the
South.
While slavery existed In the South,
:attle, hogs and sheep were to be |
ound upon every plantation, and on |
many Of them were very good beef
some herds of which con-
aimed large infusion Of shOrthorn
Hood. At tnis time the South pro-
luced all OF the beef. PORK and NUT
on that was needed to supply her |
demands. At the close of the Civil |
Var cattle were left and these were
red among themselves without the
edition of any new blood, except !
cross with the Jersey, |
he result Of which was class of |
alive cattle which were small, slow |
4 growth and of very poor quality |
of beef. At this tirae farmers were |
from bringing in pure
reed animals from the North( as a
cry large proportion Of them, some
mes as much az IS per cent would
ie the first year from a disease
aused by cattle ticks 1.-THE Texas
sver), the direct cause Of which was
t the time unknown.
Corn and other grains had formed
le major portion of the crops dur
lg the early slavery time, but with
lie improvement of the cotton gin
q increased amount Of cotton was
aised each year until 1861. After
le slaves had been r. eed cooton was
Ugh in price and It was hard to get
Dor, as there was little money with
hich help could be hired. This con-
tion made 1t imperative that the
,uthern farmer produce some crop
hich could be readily sold to buy
othing or other necessities. This
ethod of farming caused some lands
be planted in cotton for as long
thirty years in succession. which |