The daily Gate City and constitution-Democrat. (Keokuk, Iowa) 1916-1922, 1916-08-29
Beet Industry Enriches IolDa
Says Authority in an Article

under conditions which formerly pre-
vailed.
So far as the most appropriate type
OF beef animal is concerned some
thing has to be left to individual pref
erence and local conditions. 1t is
proper to suggest. however, that in all
beef enterprises the dual purpose
breeds should be sought. In the dairy
districts, where cows have been bred
mainly for milk production. satisfac-
tory results are obtained by crossing
the dams with sires of frst-class
beef type. This is done without less
ening the dairy output, and the off
spring can in most cases be developed
into good meat animals.
Shorthorns Found Adaptable.
All through the state of Iowa, as
in Ohio and Michigan, Shorthorn dual
purpose sires are enabling dairy
owners on farms of ordinary size to
produce prime beef In considerable
the supply of milk and butter. Short
horn cows of careful selection pay
well in the dairy industry and work
duction Without decrying other
breeds. this type has been found fully
adaptable to the new situation. Either
pure bred or grade Shorthorns serve
the purpose and furnish fine quality
of beef in an economical way. rhe
fact is made clear that the Short
horn breed natures quickly, is uni
formly healthy and finishes into a
superior quality of meat at a low
cost.
1t is reasonable for dairy farmer
to desire to go forward with the
special branch Of agriculture with
which he is familiar, and it is also
timely and wise for him to give a
place in his programme to meat ami
mails. In working out satisfactory
solution of this problem Iowa farm
ers have been distinctly successful.
What they have accomplished can be
repeated in the dairy districts of Hi
nois and other states, and their sys-
, tenn will at once improve the land
Land increase the profits.
i While considering this subject of
baby beef production l wish to en-
phasize what has often been claimed,
namely, that 1t is mistaken policy
to slaughter. the large, well-bred
calves belonging to the average ILL
nois and Iowa dairy. These young
animals can be fed for beef produc-
ton much more cheaply than is com
monty supposed. They do not require
whole milk after the first week, but
thrive on warm skinned milk to
which is ADDED steadily increasing
quantity of shorts or middlings. At
the end Of the pasturage season they
will utilize clover, alfalfa and silage.
In from four to six months they
should have liberal rations of ground
corn and chopped beets or turnips in
addition to silage and hay.
Soy Beans Prove Good Feed.
| If soy beans are grown on the place
these can be ground and fed to the
! yearlings with the best results. Soy
beans will to great extent save
| buying millfeed and will assist the
forcing process better than almost
any other concentrate. BY the use
of silage, alfalfa, ground oats, corn
and soy beans, bran or shorts and
roots, farmers are able to get a quick
growth and a good quality of beef at
moderate expense.
This is properly balanced feed
for any class Of young stock and
answers the purpose also in feeding
older beef animals, except that the
latter require the regular corn .at,on
and will use to advantage certain
proportion of cottonseed meal and
the common oil meal. Farmers who
raise soy beans for their beef cattle
! and feed the ground product either
dry or as constituent Of silage are
putting themselves in the way to
secure liberal profits.
~{0%S hnr ",
the feeding business because of the
high price of young cattle on the
western ranges and because a con.
stantly increasing number of farmers
are raising calves for beef animals
Calves handled for baby beef require
/ a comparatively small investment
and if they are kept growing from the
start they reach weight of 1000 to
1000 pounds at the age Of year
| 4 his quick and economical production
of a fine quality of beef assures a
! large profit. There is no doubt about
the wisdom of this policy and tndi.
cations are that it will become quite
general in those localities which see
the necessity Of restoring beef herds
on the ordinary farms of America.
! The average farm Of 100 acres can
raise to advantage two or more car
loads of beef cattle without unduly
| curtailing other interests. Under
modern methods of feeding and man
agement 100 head Of calves could be
| brought forward to hnished beef on
many farms where money making op
portunities have not heretofore been
| grasped and where the depleted soil
! demands restoration through live
stock and leguminous crops. These
| herds are to be built up partly by
breeding and partly by the purchase
of young stock in the neighborhood
Such programme will soon raise the
annual farm production to a high
money value, and profits will be cor
respondingly increased.
| ~ MINING EDIHT