Morris tribune. [volume] (Morris, Minn.) 1880-2000, 1917-05-18
PROF. JORDAN PINS HIS
FAITH TO LIVE STOCK
Hay, Straw and Other Roughage
Should Be Converted into Cattle,
Sheep and Horses

(By P. S. Jordan, University Farm
MOrris.)
The live stock situation in this
country has no precedent. never
in the history of the markets have
prices for the various classes OF live
stock been so high. On the other
hand never before has the grain
and mill feeds which must be fed,
been so high. In the winds of good
many. it takes a lot of nerve to put
it into stock Yet it can be done and
still come out on the right side OF
the ledger. 1t is going to be very
tempting to the farmers to put all
their energy and resources into the
growing of grains. Yet the country
must have meat, and it must have
horses for both the usual sources of
demand and for army purposes.
Then too the people must be clothed
as we'll as fed, and sheep must be
raised in order to do it.
While it is true the war has had
a stimulating effect on live stock
prices it is not the only cause. Pro-
duction of live stock products has not
been keeping pace with the increase
in population. A study of the mar
kets will reveal the fact that prices
have been gradually rising for
number of years. So that there is
a healthy foundation for the present
prices even if some allowance Is
made for the situation brought by
the war.
While it is highly essential that
every bushel of grain possible be
raised for human consumption, it is
also Just as essential that farmers
speed up their live stock production
and in doing this they are going to
be richly rewarded. A great deal
more live stock could be produced
by products that go to waste on
nearly every farm. 1t is not always
necessary that expensive grains be
used. There is a great deal of land
in this part of the state admirably
adapted for pasture which will grow
live stock products very cheaply. A
gain of a half to a pound and half
a day may be expected on good pas
ture from steers ranging in age from
one to two years. A little figuring
will show that very nice profit may
be made from steers on pasture.
The large amount of hay, straw
and other roughage raised in this
part of the state should find it's way
in to farm animals. Mr.. Jordan fed
yearling steers at the University
farm nothing but alfalfa hay all
winter until grass time this spring
and secured an average Of rs of q
pound daily gain per steer. Those
fed silage in addition made approx
imately a pound day gain. No grain
whatever was fed to the two lots Of
steers. A little flock of sheep main,
tanned on the University farm re
ceived nothing all winter but the
hay left in the cows managers il
the mornings. This little band of /;
ewes has to it's credit Fl fine lambs
and carries a covering of wool tina
will bring a tidy little sum. A LITTLE
rape sown with the spring grain will
make lot of good pasture this fal
at very small cost. Every farm
should have a silo. No better O.
cheaper feed can be grown on tn
farm than silage and it makes
corn crop failure an impossibility
These suggestions are only a few o
the ways that might be mentioned
in which the farmer could increas
his live stock production and by s.
doing increase his profits and serv
his country in her needs. Ever,
calf that has tendency of grow
ing into beef or a good milk Gov
should be kept on the farm. Ever.
good breeding COW should be retaine
and made to be even more profitable
Every eve and eve lamb should b
kept for breeding purposes until tn
flock has reached the limit of tn
farms capacity and then neighbo
should be persuaded into taking tn
surplus. horses are going to be goo
property for a number of years t