El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1915-01-06
TRIES BALANCED
FEEDF0R STOCK
Scientific Cattle Feeding
Proves Profitable in
Mesilla Valley.

Scientific cattle feeding is coming
into prominent notice in the Mesilla
valley. Or. A. S. Robertson, about four
miles southwest of Las Cruces. is ex-
perimenting with a herd OF 40 eight
month white-facod Hereford calves.
feeding them a balanced ration COM
pounded of ensilage, alfalfa hay and
cottOnseed meal
Tt is DIR. Robertson's belief, as it is
that of a number Of the most progress
sive and well informed farmers in the
lands under the Elephant Butte pro-
ject, that the solution of the problem
of compelling a satisfactory market
for the alfalfa grown in these valleys
is to be found in this manner.
Has 200 Ton sic
Dr. Robertson has a 200 ton silo
nearly full of ensilage which he made
from amber cane grown on IS acres Of
irrigated land. This land had already
produced IS bushel per acre crop Of
oats.
The first crop was harvested in June.
The ground was then plowed and the
cane seed planted and the water was
turned on by the first of July. The
cane was cut between October 1 and
October 8, making a yield OF IA tons
per acre. The cost Of its production
was about 81 per ton. It is for the pur-
pose of definitely determining the price
at which he can thus market his alfalfa
and ensilage that DR.. Robertson is
feeding this stock and at the same time
carefully recording resultsa
He is feeding the 14O head a total
ration Of 100 pounds of ensilage daily,
in combination with 700 pounds of al
falfa hay and $50 pounds of cottonseed
meal
TOIbert Makes Similar Experiment.
William ToIbert, secretary of the D.
q. White Commission company. Of El
PasO, is making a similar experiment
with a herd of 500 head of white faced
HerefOrds on Bailey & Baileys ranch,
near Canutillo, in the Mesilla valley.
Bailey & Bailey have 10 silos, Of so ton
capacity each, the contents Of which
We're bought by Mr.. Tolbert to feed his
herd in combination with alfalfa hay
and cottOnseed meal. The ration for
each head is Is pounds Of alfalfa hay,
five pounds Of ensilage and one-half
pound Of cottonseed meal per day. It
will be observed that while this, also.
constitutes a balanced ration, there is
a much larger percentage of alfalfa
hay and smaller proportion Of ensilage
in it than is being fed to the Robertson
herd.
Counts Upon Profit Of s. to 81.
Mr. TOlberts cattle are Of about the
same age as the Robertson herd and
cost him an average of about s2S a
head. He estimates that after paying
the expense Of feeding and care Of the
calves until spring he win be able to
sell them at profit of IS to 81
head Cattle so fed, according to Mr..
TOlbert, if they are of good blood and
in fair condition to begin with, should
take on from As to 60 pounds a head
per month. The estimate OF profit is
based upon feed bought from another.
If the farmer grows his own feed, his
profit, of course, should be cOnsidera-
bly, greater.
Floyd Turney, of Las Cruces. is also
feeding ESQ head of cattle. He has two
silos, containing 375 tons Of ensilage.
He viii also use a balanced ration.
Good EnsilaEe From Native Grasses.
Mr.. Turney runs cattle over an i'm
mense range on the mesas and hills
east and north of Las Cruces, and is
firmly committed to the belief that
good ensilage can be made of the ma
tive grasses that spring from the me-
sas in favorable seasons
Cattle can be raised here cheaper
than in any other part OF the United
States, declares Mr.. Turney. The eli
mate reduces the cost OF shelter and
feeding to a minimum. ] have noticed
that as the mesas are grazed the yield
Of native grasses increases-provided
the range is under control. We have
eight varieties of native grasses on the
range in this part OF the worid-four
winter grasses and four summer
grasses. Our upland range can be
vastly improved il an intelligent effort
is made to control it."
fence. He has 10000 acres OF range
one place.