La Junta tribune., 1917-04-05
LIVE STOCK IN AGRICULTURE
Seven Good Reasons Why Animal
Husbandry Is Essential In All
Sound Systems of Farming

riculture are set forth In an article
by George NJ. Rommel in the 1916
yearbook OF the United States De-
papment OF Agriculture. Briefly,
MIR. Rommel's seven reasons are the
maintenance OF soil fertility. the
utilization OF raw material, the need
OF motive power on the farm, cash
income, the added attractiveness Of
a farm on which there is live stock.
the training in business sense OBJ
tanned in keeping animals. and bet
ter and more economical living for
the farm family.
To maintain soil fertility. says Mr.
Rommel, humus Is necessary. This
can be obtained from two sources
green crops plowed under. or barn
yard manure. When green crops are
plowed under, however, there is no
direct revenue from them. BY feed
ing these crops to live stock. valu-
able products that can be exchanged
for cash are obtained. At the same
time the manure produced by the
animals retains n very large percent
age OF the fertilizing value OF the
feed For this reason 1t is more
economical to feed than to piow un-
der without feeding, and the most
practical source OF humus is stable
manure.
The farmer with live stock is
from one point OF view. manu-
facturer. He takes lean. unfinished
animals and grain for forage as his
raw materials and by combining
them produces beef, mutton. pork.
and dairy products. Like all manu-
featuring. this process must be con-
Quoted with skill and intelligence II
II Is to pay. but II the farmer pos
sesses these qualities he derives a
larger profit than he could obtain
through the sale of crops and ami
mails In the raw state. Furthermore
there are many products on the
farm which bring little or nothing
on the market They can. however.
by skillful management. be made to
assist in the production of meat
The thrifty farmer makes use In this
way OF all roughaRe on his farm
that would otherwise be unsalable.
The corn stalks, go into the silo or
into the shock as cut fodder. The
straw and coarse hay are utilized
10 the last unit OF energy value.
Land that cannot produce market
ablc crops Is made to yield GER
tain amount OF sustenance for hogs
and sheep.
While In cities and factories me-
chanical power Is coming to more
and more general use, on the farms
OF the country the horse and the
mule are the chief reliance The
proper breeding. maintenance. and
employment OF these animal engines
is a problem OF the greatest impor-
tance to The farmer.
As source OF cash income. the
keeping of live stock In many sec
tions Is what Is known as a special
~ business. In dairy districts Il Is
the main activity. and every phase
OF farm management In determined
by Its interests. Where the principal
purpose OF live stock feeding. how
ever is to maintain soil fertility.
farms which rely ON live stock for
the main source OF their income viii
tend to become breeding centcrs for
purebred animals To be distributed
through the surrounding country
for breeding purposes on those farms
on which only a limited amount OF
live stock is kept. The production
OF purebred animals is a highly
specialized business, and only the
most skilled animal hnsbandrymen
can mnke success OF II.
The fifih function which Mr.
Rommci aseribes to live stock on
the farm is no, so directly connect
ed with problems OF income but Il
In nevertheless of vital importance
Experience has shown that nothing
tends more strongly To create and
maintain an Interest In farm life
among boys and girls than the care
OF animals. n IL essential to the
continued prosperity OF this eountr,
that young pcopi. should be en-.
couraged 10 make farming their vo'
cation In life. Those who have de.
voted themselves to this work have
found that among their most effect.
I've aids are the poultry. calf. and
pig clubs.
To the grown farmer the kecpinp
OF live stock is Indirectly OF value
because its successful production re-
qnircs the adoption of systematic
businessiike. and sanitary methods