Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1916-03-14

For winter feeding a great variety Of
roughness is available. such as cotton
seed hulls. shredded corn stover, sor-
ghum fodder, cowpea, soy bean, alfalfa,
or oat and vetch hay. Straw derived
from the increased acreage devoted to
cereals can also be utilized; and then
there is no section where silage can be
more easily and economically made and
preserved than in Georgia Very slight
shelters win protect the animals salts
factorily during the winter season A
temporary silo capable Of holding 20 TO
100 tons or more of siIage can be erect
ed at a cost of SIS TO 500, and perma-
nent structures at a cost Of $3.50 and
upwards. There is plenty Of opportun-
ity. therefore, for the production OF
live stock under the conditions pertain
ing I'm Georgia to the best possible ad-
vantage. Our farmers have not been
slow In recognizing this fact. as wit
messed BY the statement that several
hundred pure-bred bulls have been
brought into Georgia within the last
twelve months.
on the college farm, FOR instance,
there are about 200 acres OF little better
than waste land for agricultural pur-
poses. yet II grows Bermuda grass TO
good advantage About al that mas
peer done TO this area has been to cut
out the brush and let nature do the
rest. In the beginning II barely main
tanned seventeen cows with their
calves It is now carrying
ssxtv. Native COWS were used
for the establishment of this beef herd.
They were crossed on a pure-bred Here
ford bull. In the third and fourth gen.
Grafton the calves show every character
u the Hereford so faithfully that even
an expert could not tell them from
nure-breds The original cows cost SIT
apiece while their male progeny finished
for beef as long yearlings have been
sold at from S45 to $50 head on the
Athens market The cows have rustled
for themselves for the greater part OF
the year and during the balance Of the
time have been fed on silage, such
roughness as is available on the average
farm. and on two or four pounds of cot
ton seed meal per head per day. The
calves which the cows are bred so as TO
drop in the spring are fed on silage and
cotton seed meal during the first win
ter. They run on grass the next sum-
Iner and are then sold the following
spring. after being finished on silage
and cotton seed meal. never more than
three TO six pounds Of meal having been
fed at any time during their period OF
growth and development. The heifer
calves have been sold at eight months
Tor breeding purposes at from $50 TO
$50, and in all more than sixty animals
have been disposed OF from this herd in
the last four years. Surely, this is a
most economical ration and illustrates
the latent possibilities Of millions Of
acres OF land in Georgia which is pro-
ducing nothing at the present time, but
which is admirably adapted for the
maintenance OF beef cattle through the
wise use OF Bermuda grass and the
supplemental crops mentioned, cotton
seed meal. bulls, silage and other forms
OF roughage.
When the farmer desires to finish beef
.attle in the stall. he viii find ration
OF siIage and cotton seed meal indispen-
sable. both from an economic point Of
view and the rapIdity Of the gains OBJ
tanned As much silage should be fed as
viii be eaten up readily. little rough
age say Eve or ten pounds Of hulls, cat
straw. pea vine hay OF corn stOver should
be fed In addition. This is best supplied
in racks placed in the feed lots and so
constructed as to keep the fodder dry.
Prom two TO six pounds of cotton seed
meal should be fed per head per day.
OF course, these figures are based on a
weight OF 1000 pounds The smaller
amount OF meal should constitute the
initial ration and 1t should be increased
gradually during the four months feed
ing period until the maximum amoun- is
being fed for the last thirty days AMI
mails so finished viii slaughter out to
the best advantage, viii make a very
cnoice quality Of meat. and Kill out a
relatively high per cent OF good meat
in proportion TO offaL They VIII also
stand shipment well.
That these suggestions are eminently
practical is shown by the results OBJ
tanned on a south Georgia farm where
one OF the farm demonstrators employed