Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1916-06-23
AGRICULTURAL
.gesgSSGduCAfion
~ AND SUCCESSFUL nRrIYG
SZ-sz /" AKDREWN SouLE
Mineral Elements in Southern FoodstuffS

Some people are OF the opinion that
live stock cannot De raised advan-
tageOusly in the coastal plains. section
and in the Piedmont area as in the lime
stone regions OF Kentucky and Tennes-
see and the states lying north of the
Ohio river. This idea seems 10 be based
on the fact that live stock often do not
attain the size and weight at a given
age as are secured by stockmen in the
territory mentioned. Occasionally. one
hears OF cattle losing their hair or
calves being born with a deficiency IN
bone. These troubles have been at
tributed TO the lack of mineral elements
In southern soils. particularly lime and
phosphorus. and also 10 the fact that the
fOOdstuffs themselves were so deficient
In these elements as 20 produce the re-
suits indicated above. In other words,
when the COW was carrying the calf
she was not sufficiently well supplied
with mineral matter TO develop a strong
and vigorous fOetus; hence at birth the
calf was understood and possessed of an
improperly developed skeleton.
Persons holding these views lose sight
of the fact that thousands OF calves are
dropped every year which are healthy
and vigorous and as well developed in
regard 10 bone and muscle as those TO
De found in any other section of the
some other agency must be charged with
st least part OF the difficulty experienced
by some stock owners than mere de-
ficiency in mineral mater either in the
soil o. in the foodstuffs commonly used
An experience of more than twenty
years indicates that animals can be
grown TO a good size in the south as
quickly and as satisfactorily and eco
nomically as in other sections of the
country. provided the right kind of Ta-
tiOns be used and a liberal amount Of
feed supplied. The troubles experienced
by the average cattle man arise more
from a deficiency in the amount and va
riety of foodstuffs used than from any
other cause.
As an evidence OF the correctness Of
this view Of the situation let US con-
slider for a few minutes the character
Of the concentrates chiefly fed in other
sections OF the country. Corn is natur-
ally the principal crop. used north OF
the Ohio river. This fOOdstun is not
only low IN digestibIe protein, contain
ing 1O.I per cent. but ii contains only
12 per cent OF ash matter Wheat con-
tains 1-s per cent OF ash matter and
ia per cent OF protein Wheat bran
contains is per cent Of protein or nearly
twice as much as corn. ana b-S per cent
OF ash Oats contain I3-4 per cent OF
protein and 30 per cent OF ash, while
barley contains lis per cent Of protein
and % per cent OF ash. These are the
principal cereals fed north OF the Ohio
river. and with the exception OF wheat
bran none OF them are notably high IL
ash matter. Ii Is "A custom i'm that sec
tion OF the country TO feed some con-
centrate high i'm protein. however and
containing as a rule a considerable
quantity OF ash matter. Two cOncen-
trates are chiefly used for this pur-
pose: Hnseed meal which contains 1873
per cent OF crude protein and 81 per
cent Of ash, and Gotten seed meal,
prime grade OF which contains Go per
cent Of ash and 3s.S per cent of rude
protein
These figures may be surprising 10
some because they indicate that cotton
seed meal grown in the coastal plains o.
the Piedmont region OF the south ON
lands which are deficient in lime and IN
phosphorus still contains more ash mat
ter and a higher per cent OF protein
than Iilseed meal grown primarily along
the northern border of the United States.
These figures indicate also that with the
exception OF wheat brand none Of the
ceareals fed north OF the Ohio river con-
tain anything like as much ash matter
as cotton seed meal. and in nearly every
instance from one-third TO one-fOurth IS
much protein. These facts make it