The Rice belt journal. (Welsh, Calcasieu Parish, La.) 1900-19??, 1920-01-24

present time the corn belt is the re-
gion best adapted to this system, al
though 1t Is practiced In limited way
in other sections. The dual-purpose
system is followed extensively In
many semi-dairy districts. According
to this plan all the COWS are MIXED
and the calves are raised on skim
milk and supplemental feeds. Often
the dual-purpose idea resolves itself
into trying to make dairy animals out
of a strictly beef breed. Dual-pur-
pose calves, as q rule, do not possess
the beef-type characteristics of strictly
beef-bred calves, but when they are
grown out" and fattened properly
they make very satisfactory beef.
Cut Feed Costs to Limit.
When feeds are high in price the
use Of cheap rations is especially de-
sirable for the maintenance Of the
breeding herd. Cows raised for the
production of calves only can be fed
very cheaply on silage and dry rough
ages, combined with a small quantity
of protein-rich concentrates, although
by the substitution of leguminous hays
the costly concentrates may be omitted.
Dual-purp0Se COWS kept for dairy
products as we'll as calves should re-
ceive feeds nearly identical with those
provided for dairy cows. AS far as
possible, homegrown feeds should
be utilized, although it Is almost es-
sentlal that considerable amounts OF
purchased concentrates be provided.
Cows that are MIXED should receive
l pound of concentrate for every to
4 pounds Of milk produced, depend
ing upon the fat content Of the milk.
In the South, where velvet beans
may be grown, this crop when planted
with corn affords excellent pasturage
for breeding cows after the corn has
been gathered. Throughout the drought
exposed areas Of the West 1t is I'M
usual to save emergency supplies Of
feed, and as a result during the
drought many cattle owners are
obliged to utilize the native range
plants such as soapweed, sotol, bear
grass, and prickIy pear. These plants,
, ground up, serve to sustain the life
of cattle where each mature animal re-
ceives from 20 to 25 pounds day.
When from / to pounds Of cottonseed
cake is supplied as a supplement to
the chopped feed fairly good ration
, is provided.
In the semiarid region of the South
west, sorghum plants provide excel
lent silage while In the range sec
lions of the middle West it Is essen
tial to set aside considerable hay as
emergency feed. During severe win
} tiers animals that are especially thin
and weak should be separated from
the rest of the herd and sheltered and
fed. Cheap shelter not only saves feed
, but may save many cattle that would
die If left exposed to wintry storms.
How to Feed Beef.
: The farmers bulletin mentioned dis
cusses in detail the proper methods
of feeding cattle in the various beef.
producing sections in the United
States, and also presents wide va
J riety of balanced rations suitable for
] use in each of these beefsteak produc-
ing sections. 1t describes at some
J length the popular methods of handling
: yearling stockers. while 1t also empha-
sizes the value as scavengers of hogs,
, yard mates of fattening cattle. The
, number of hogs to use depends upon
the kind of cattle and the character
; and quality of the grain ration which
2 is fed. Ordinarily one pig weighing
, 10 to so pounds to each three steers
,, is required. When supplemental feed
is provided the porkers, Few more
may just as well be added, the chief
, consideration being to utilize all waste
, feed and to convert it into pork.