The Tucumcari news and Tucumcari times. [volume] (Tucumcari, N.M.) 1907-1921, 1916-02-24
TICK. FREE LIVESTOCK

the cattle tick has been eliminated,
demonstration agents are now showing
the people how they can realize the
full benefits of their success in the
campaign Of eradication. Purebred
stock is being brought in to improve
the quality of the native cattle, farm
ers who have never paid any attention
to live stock are being instructed in
the fundamental principles Of economi-
cal and efficient feeding, and cream
routes and creameries are being es-
tablished in sections where they were
unhcard of in the days of the ticks.
An interesting instance Of what n
creamery can do for community is
afforded by the history of the one es-
tablished in cooperation with Glenn
son college in South Carolina. In Sep
tember, 1914, the creamery had five
patrons whose 25 cows furnished COS
pounds of butter fat that month. In
October n cream route was established
and the number Of patrons increased
TO II. More route, were started from
time to time. each new one bringing
in more patrons, until in August, 1915
after n years work, 227 farmers were
sending in the cream from S33 cows.
The total amount Of butter fat deliver
cd to the creamery that month was
lA,Si5 pounds. For IL the farmers
received S3,S5l.ss. nm average Of APP
proximately SIT each.
The importation Of good bulls, both
for beef and dairy herds. is of spe-
cial significance, since this was prac-
tically out Of the question in the tick
days, because Of the danger Of death
from Texas fever. In consequence,
the grading up Of the herds was i'm
possible, and there was too little mon
ey in the feeding Of ticky scrubs to
make IL an attractive undertaking.
This was also true of dairying with
the same kind Of stock, for the milk
production, poor at best, was reduced
by the ticks in cases Of heavy infesta-
tion by as much as 40 per cent. On
the other hand, the possibilities Of
profit in grading up herds are very
great.
II is, of course, not every stockman
who can afford the exclusive use Of q
purebred bull. The small farmer with
one or two cows gains, however, just
as much in proportion by breeding
them to a purebred instead of q scrub
and the gain is even moro important
to him. For this reason the depart
ment is now encouraging the forma-
ton of livestock associations and bull
clubs in which a number Of farmers
unite in the purchase Of q bull. The
county agents and special demonstra-
tors are also urging upon farmers In
the areas recently freed from the ticks
the following plan for getting a start
in the livestock industry:
Get Bermuda grass started on all
pastures further by sowing some les
pedeza and bur clover on the uplands
and some alsike clover or white clover
on the bottom lands.
Grow more hay and other forage
on which TO winter the stock, or erect
a silo IL you have as many rs 10 dairy
cattle or 20 beef cattle.
Bring in good bulls TO use for grad
ing up the native cattle. Do not try
to raise purebreds to begin with.
II not able to buy bull for individ-
ual use, form bull club.
Form cummunity club or county
livestock association so that members
may exchange bulls every two years
and thus obtain the maximum SER
vice from a bull without breeding him
to his own offspring.
Heifers of the beef breeds should
not drop calves until they are 80 or
more months old.
Breed all beef cows so as to caive
during February, March and April.
Breed all dairy cows so rs TO have
them calve In the fall.
Wean the beef calves ia the fall.
Give them plenty Of good, bright hay,
silage II available, and about pound
of cottonseed meal per day for the
first month. After that they can be
wintered on the roughage produced on
the place and little concentrate.
The breeding stock in the beef herd
may be given the run Of the stalk
fields until the middle of winter and
then fed on roughness. As the cows
will be carrying calves, they should
be kept in a thrifty condition.
II possible, dip all of the stock each
spring and fall to keep them free Of
lice and TO put their skin in good con-
dition.
Never keep "a grade bull for q sire
IL purebred one can be secured.