The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1915-09-04
CATTLES SALES IN SOUTH.
Cooperative Feeding and Selling i'm
So. til CarOlina-Fcd I'm Winter In
stead Of Selling Ion Grass'' i'm Fall.

The South has long been seriously
handicapped in an agricultural way
through lack Of suitable markets for
her products. This lack of adequate
markets particularly has kept back
the development of the southern cat
tie growing and feeding industry. The
South has long since proved that she
can produce beef at a cheaper cost
per pound than can almost any other
section Of the country
The South Carolina extension de-
apartment in cooperation with the De-
partment OF Agriculture in Washing
ton, in several recent cooperative cat
tie sales in South Carolina appar rent
'ly has devised a practical method Of
getting buyer and seller together.
The practice in that State as we'll as
in many other Southern States mas
heretofore been to market cattle of
grass in the fall. Daring the past
year good many small farmers in
South Carolina were induced to feed
their cattle through the winter i'll
stead Of handling them according to
their previous practice. These small
farmers, owning from one to five
head of cattle, were given expert su-
pervision and advice concerning the
feeding of their stock, and they fol-
lowed the instructions of the experts
who had supervision of the work.
cal points with the view of finishing
them at the same time so as to facili-
tate the matter of concentrating the
cattle on sale day. Cooperative sales
were held from April IA to 16, at
Rock Hill. Greenwood. and Winns-
boro, S. c. Buyers were in attend.
ance from New York City. Baltimore
and Washington as we'll as from To-
cal points. These men seemed to be
we'll satisfied with their purchases
and promised their hearty cooperation
in the future.
While the sales were very satisfac-
tory to both the catuemen and the
buyers. plans are already on foot for
further improving the general plan of
operation. The plan for next year Is
to feed the cattle around four central
points. AT each of these points an ef-
fort is to be made to build yards with
enough pens Of sufficient size to &C.
comnodate all cattle intended for sale
In that community. Upon arrival al
these pens under supervision Of q
competent salesman and assistants
the cattle will be marked and care.
fully graded. Upon the sale of each
lot the animals therein will be weigh.
ed separately 30 that credit may be
given to the owner Of these particular
animals.
At the present time products of the
South are used in finishing not only
some Of her own cattle but the cattle
of all other parts of the United States
as we'll. In addition there is shipped
annually from the South to European
countries more than 100000 tons OF
cottonseed meal and cake. This ma.
terial is shipped from this country be.
cause there Is insufficient market fo,
1t at home. One country in Europe
feeds annually an average Of over SOC
pounds Of oil cake, Chiefly cottonseed
cake. to each Of the mature cattle
within that country. The people oi
this country know less OF it's feeding
value than these European farmer.
do. A very large per cent of this ma
terial could be used in the South 70,
cattle-feeding purposes. If some sue.
cessful method of marketing the cat.
tie of the small farmers could be
found.
| 1t is hoped that these sales will re.
suit in general stimulus to the cat.
tie industry Of that section, since q
great amny farmers were in attend.
ance and all were very enthusiastic
over the outcome of the sale. Such
meetings and the kind Of enthusiasm
that was here evinced are sure to re.
suit in general improvement in the
quality and methods employed in the
| feeding Of the cattle, as well as in
better systems Of marketing.-Weekly
News Letter.