Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1918-07-24

1
known as exports" owing to the high
costs of labor and feed, are not an
economical product, and their produc-
ton should not be encouraged
Not only has the Advisory Committee
thus warned against the heavy feeding
of cattle, but it is also understood that
the Government officials directing the
buying policies of the Government will
not consider themselves responsible
for the prices of very fat cattle.
Beef With Less Grain.
Recent experiments by various
State experiment stations and the
United States Department of Agri-
culture have borne out the fact that
good beef can be produced by using
relatively small amount Of grain, or
with heterogeneous concentrates in con-
nection with silage and some other
cheap roughage in the form of hay.
The principle that should be fol-
lowed in future feeding operations,
according to the advise of the Depart
ment of Agriculture, is to reduce to
minimum the amount Of high-priced
feed and to make judicious use Of
roughages. In other words, instead
of feeding from so to 60 bushels of
dry corn per steer in long feeding
period, as was the custom in the past,
the quantity should be. and may be
|profitably, reduced from Is to 20
bushels in a shorter feeding period,
or the dry corn can be eliminated al
together, as the liberal use Of silage
will furnish all excellent ration.
Use OF Protein Supplements.
The use of cottonseed meal, linseed
meal, or other protein-rich feed even
though high in price, is to be highly
recommended, because the higher 9th
er feeds are the more profitable be-
comes the use of protein supple
ment. Expensive hay may be COM
pletely eliminated in the ration by the
use of a cheaper dry-roughage, such
as corn slower, coarse hay or straw.
The department believes that by
avoiding too heavy feeding and too
high finish, and by following the sug-
gestions given above, feeders should
be able to feed cattle at profit in
spite of the high prices of feed and
labor. The recent statement OF the
United States Food Administrator and
the available reports from foreign
countries indicate that there may be
great increase in the demand for
beef, which is encouraging to the cattle
feeders of this country and especially
those who suffered losses during the
past feeding season.
Farm Help Available.
The County Agent has observed that
many farmers are working short
handed and taking grave chances in
handling their crop when they could
Just as we'll have additional help in
putting up the small grains.
Through the Labor Exchange, ar
rangements have been made to furnish
assistance to those who need it most.
The plan of cooperation is as follows:
If no help is available for handling
the crop arrangements will be made
to have the farmers cut the small
grain, leave it on the ground until
help arrives.
It will be necessary for the farmers
to cooperate with the County Agents
office to this end. The County Agent
does not know who is in need of as
sistance until they make their wants
known. While a number Of farm
hands have been placed recently, it
is impossible to fill all of the requests
that have come in and the only way
we can handle these requests at pres
ent is to furnish available labor even
ings, from Manchester, to put up the
crops If they have been cut.
Do not work short-handed and run
the danger of stormy weather ruin
ing the crops.