The star-progress. (Opelousas, La.) 1917-1921, 1920-02-21

full attention must be given to eco
nomical production. Industrial plants
have found it necessary to introduce
the cost-accounting system in order
that the cost Of each part manufac-
tured may be determined. In the
same way, farmers must conduct their
business and know more definitely
the desirable and profitable lines Of
production.
Not every farmer has it within his
power to increase his acreage, but he
can very materially increase his in
come by judiciously increasing the
size of his business. There is one way
Of doing this that seems to be open
to farmers in practically all parts of
the country. The simplest and surest
way for the land-locked farmer to
make more money is to produce more
and better livestock. There is but
limited opportunity for expansion in
the production Of the intcnsively
grown crops, but there is great OPP
portunity for expansion in the breed
ing and sale Of all classes Of live
stock.
In the case of AZ farms surveyed in
Henry county, Indiana, by the de-
paTtment Of agriculture, II made an
average labor income Of s1,423 &
year. These farms kept the most
livestock. averaging 81 animal units
that is, So full-grown cattle. or
their equivalent ia smaller animals.
Sixteen farms made an average labor
income Of SAFE. These farms kept
livestock averaging 19 animal units
per farm. Fifteen farms made an
average labor income Of but 81. Not
one Of these farms kept more than
Is animal units.
Dividing these farms into three
groups according to the number Of
animals to an acre. the same tenden-
cy is shown. The more heavily stock
ea the farm the larger the labor in
come.
A specific example Of what can be
accomplished by raising more and
better stock, is that Of a cronbelt
farm, formerly managed as straight
grain farm, chat for the past five
years has been operated as a hog
farm. The system followed is rather
unusual, in that but one litter is
raised each year, the sows bred be-
ing quilts, which are fattened and
sold after their pigs have been wean-
led. The pigs, put on full feed on
self feeders, are sold when from six
to seven months old. Enough hogs are
bought to hog down the corn crop.
The profits realized are far in adj
vance Of those realized under the old
system. For the past three years,
respectively, the net returns from the
hog enterprise alone have been ST.
$50, 1880 and IS, 7ss.
connection, however, that Just as q
large acreage may be a handicap Tath-
er than an advantage unless used to
advantage. SO livestock may be liza
bility rather than an asset unless the
quality Of the animals is high. The
more scrub cows man has the worse
off he is if he persists IN trying to
produce milk from them, and in some
cases the quickest way to increase
net returns is to sell bunch Of can
nere.
The high-class hog and the high
class COW, each in its own field, has no
equal in efficiency in turning raw
| products into human food, but until
we realize the wide difference in eff
! ficiency between the scrub COW pro-
ducing 1000 pounds Of milk and the
animal yielding 1000 pounds Of
milk, or between the razorDack hog
and the hog that converts corn into
pork rapidly and economically, we
are not in a position 10 make the most
of this fact
The farmer who seeks to in
crease his business by going into i've
stock enterprises will make a grave
mistake unless he pays strict atten-
ton to the vital question Of quality Of
stock. It is not necessary to begin
with expensive registered animals, for
good grade stock will serve, but it is
essential that great care be exercised.
in selecting the individual animals
that are to serve as the foundation Of
the herd or flock. When such care is
taken, however, there is no safer way
for the farmer to increase the size
Of his business than BY intensive pro-.
duction Of livestock BY Robert H.
Moulton.