The Dermott news., 1916-03-02
No. q. Growing 5eef Cattle.

by h. r. Dvorachek. Professor OF Ami.
nal Husbandry, University OF
Arkansas
The growing of beef cattle has al
ways been AZ its best where pasture
is plentiful, so that cattle can feed
BESIDES pastures. the growing of for
age crops is essential to cheap produc-
ton. or the forage crops the legumes
are especially desirable The long
pasture season on nutritious. native
grasses and the adaptibility OF Ar
Kansas conditions 10 the growing Of
legumes should make the production
OF beef cattle profitable.
The proper wintering of the beef
COW is an important matter The prac-
tice OF allowing the COW to rough L
through the winter without any pro
vision OF feed BY the owner is utterly
wrong An unthrifty condition IL
bound TO result and the COW comes
out OF the winter too thin IN many
cases. to give birth TO a strong calf
Of milk which is 80 necessary to
start the calf on right. and keep It
growing until it is old enough 10 util-
iLe pasture The ration for breeding
cows need not be expensive In fact
II stiage can be provided and there
Is no reason why IL cannot. on a large
majority OF Arkansas farms and some
dried roughaee. preferably one OF the
leEumes. can be given no grain will
be necessary TO bring COWS out in the
spring in splendid condition II the
dried roughage must be such crops
AS the sorshums. Sudan grass. or ma
tive grasses, few pounds OF cotton
seed meal will supply the protein re,
quiremsnt very cheaply
II the calf is given plenty OF milk
BY the COW on pasture. and pastures
are abundant, II should come in in
the fall 1T weaving time In excellent
condition. and from early spring calv-
ing. should welsh Aetween four and
Two hundred pounds. Pie first win.
ter 10 the critical time In the life OF
= oOoA 6eI ~ WeAuluk llulo ~ onoulQ
DO eating sufficiently we'll 40 that the
loss Of milk will work lNtle hardship.
Instead Of he common practice Of let
ting sSeh wsaAlinGs 20 through the
winter trying TO make an existence "a
Aocae Deet unDAlat able dried rou0hANs.
h VII be found economical to feed
quite libeyally on 4 moro wholesome
s~k1sA Where calves are rough ID
through. they generally lose - much
- a hundred pounds in weight. which
NOR TO regain. besides losing quality
which can never be regained The
ration fed should be conducive 10
growth rather than TO fattenins Here
again the succulsnce OF silage is very
desirable az we'll AS the legumes to
supply protein and mineral matter.
Instead OF eottonsced meal, oats is eN-
cellent when not too expensive, The
requirement OF grain should be
gagged by the results desired. Cotton
seed meal is not safe for feeding
calves and should not be used
small amount Of corn II legumes are
used for roushage could be used II
crowded too much during the first
winter the gains on pasture the fol
lowing summer however. are general
ly disappointing
The fattsnyng OF beef cattle IN Ar.
kansas has thus far been successful
only to a limited extent Our class OF
cattle and feed available have made
ninety days, moro prortatle than the
long periods OF say one hundred and
eighty days The grain ratlons necee-
sary for the long periods has proved
too expensive although the Arkansas
feeder has very cheap and efficient
concentrate in cotton seed meal How.
ever. II cannot be fed in large guam.
titles for only the short period and
the corn fed finish cannot b. attained
with cotton seed meal alone As the
growing OF corn becomes more gen
sral. the time Will come when the
anishing OF cattle can be done as we'll
and as proatably In Arkansas A. Il ~
now being done in the corr belt states
ana perhaps even more SO
The greatest needs OF Arkansas Tor
he profitable growing and fatteuing
II beef cattle are the eradication Of
he fever tick so that cattle can make
, normal growth. the introduction OF
better blood through good sires, which
viii quickly follow tick eradication,
md better understanding of stock
rowing sr that the favorable condi-
sons which prevail can be taken ad.