The Elk Mountain pilot., 1917-12-27

HieHt OF ABrlcultufeD
Although there are number of fac
tors that govern the profitableness of
the calf-grOwing enterprise, an inves-
tigation carried on by the United
States department of agriculture in
the corn-belt states during the last
three years show that losses on calves
usually are due to excessive mainte-
nance costs of the breeding cows.
When COW is kept only for the pro-
duction of calves, she should be fed
ration that will enable her to produce
and raise good strong calf and still
keep in good healthy condition. To
feed In excess of this amount merely
for the sake of having Incorporating
cow, as Is frequently done, is n waste
of feed. This waste increases the
maintenance cost, often to the point of
wiping out profits, for when the busi-
ness is conducted on as close Il margin
as at present it is impossible to raise
calves at profit unless the strictest
economy Is practiced in feeding the
cows.
Sufficient Pasture.
The information at hand shows that
where cows are kept exclusively for
the production of feeder animals there
must be a sufficient area of pasture,
most economically utilized, to support
the animals for at least six months Of
the year. Not only must they get fully
one-half of their living from cheap
grazing but they must be so handled
during the remainder of the year that
the greater portion of their winter feed
is made up of those unstable rough
feeds, such as stalks, stover and straw,
which are abundant on corn-belt farms.
The data obtained also show that on
cOrn-belt farms the size of the herds
usually should be limited to the num-
ber that can be supported on such
cheap feeds. In other words, with the
prices prevailing during recent years,
the breeding herds must be made to
utilize the farm by-products and con-
vert them into beef and manure. while
the more valuable products are sold or
are fed to fattening animals.
Much Feed Wasted.
Every year there are large Quanti-
ties of corn stover which are not util-
lied to their fullest extent. Every year
also a vast quantity of straw is wasted
by letting cattle run to the stack and
trample under foot more straw than
they eat. In some parts of the coun-
try large quantities Of straw are de-
stroyed by burning. Much OF the straw
so wasted might be used to replace
some of the more valuable feeds that
beef cows receive. 1t is true that in
many parts of the country in times
past 1t has been better farm economy
to allow these products to be de-
stroyed rather than to try to use them.
However, under present conditions.
not only is it necessary that cattle
should be handled in such a manner
rs to use as much of these by-products
as possible. but also. IL possible, the
farm business should be arranged so
that enough stock is kept to consume
fully these cheap roughages.
Use Cheaper Rouohaoe.
These cheaper rough feeds can be
utilized more fully than Is customary
and much less grain and hay need be
fed to breeding herds. This is DEM
onstrated by the results of the investi-
CATION mentioned. In this investiga-
ton approximately 1000 farms were
visited. and detailed information was
obtained on the cost of maintaining the
breeding herds on these farms as well
as on the cost of producing the feeder
cattle. In addition to the cost-account-
ing figures, II study also was made of
the methods used in caring for the cat
tie. This study is based on records
from 47S of these farms, upon which
the breeding herds were kept solely for
the production of calves to be fed out
ms baby beef twO-year-Olds, or three
year-olds. On these farms the average
cost of calf at weaving time, figuring
all expenses and deducting all credits,
was S37. There was. however, n very
wide range in the cost of these calves,
depending somewhat on the locality in
which the calves were raised and very
largely on the methods followed in
producing them. On some farms this
cost was as low as $50 per calf, while
on others 1t exceeded $50.
On the farms visited there was
very wide range both in the quantity
and the kind of rations fed. Some
farmers were feeding n ration that was
hardly adequate, while others were
giving their cows more feed than they
could possibly eat. Some were carry
ing their cows through the winter in
fairly good condition ut very low
cost, while others were using large
quantities of expensive hay and grain.
with a resultant heavy winter feed bill.
Many of the latter could have greatly
reduced the cost of their rations by
judicious substitution of cheaper feeds
for some Of the more expensive ones.
0rainless Ration.
The use of grainless ration is, of
course. not always possible Or prac-
ticnble. If this type of ration Is to be
economical, there must be an abun-
dance of cheap hay to combine with