Grand Forks herald. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1916-1955, 1921-02-08

While. as stated. in a previous ar
ticle. the surest and quickest returns
arc secured from cattle by milking
cows. nevertheless cattle may be hand.
led probably with milking. 1t must
also not be supposed that cattle arc
the only kind OF live stock that MAJ
be handled with profit. Many farm
ers receive a good income per year
from a number Of colts raised or
from a bunch of sheep that arc prop
eriy fed and cared for. There Is a
place for hogs and poultry on every
farm. and there will doubtless be
more of them raised in the future.
They do not. however, take the place
of horses. cattle or sheep in the
scheme Of farming. !
Decide on What Line to Follow.
There are certain conditions which
may determine to a large extent what
kind of stock should be kept. If this
land is all well suited to farming 1t
might not be so profitable to turn any
large area of this into pasture. Con-
%seouently some kind of stock should
be decided OF that will not need a
great deal of pasture. In many cases
dairying is now conducted on farms
that have NJ pasture at all, the cattle
being lot or, still fed the entire year.
Hogs require very little pasture,
and il plenty of roughness is availa-
BILE. horses especially if they are
worked, nay be kept OF a very small
amount of pasture land. Where the
beef breeds of cattle are kept there
should be larger areas for pasture, so
that they may be turned out as soon
as the grass! is ready in the spring.
! with the expectation that they will
receive very little. If any. attention
until the pastures are frozen UP in
the fall.
Decide. and Stick to 1t.
1t is. however, essential to decide
on a line Of live stock farming and
then stick to it. There has perhaps
been no greater source Of loss. espe-
cially In live stock. than frequent
changing from one breed or kind Of
stock to another. Everything favors
continuing with a certain line. So far
as profits are concerned. there may
be fluctuations from time to time,
but as a general rule changes are
made at the wrong time to take ad-
vantage Of these. Instead Of follow
ing he rule Ito buy low and sell
high" many will get discouraged
when prices are low and sell out. and
il prices are particularly high on some
other line they VIII buy in on that,
only to get discouraged when it goes
down again. These fluctuations are
bound to take place as they have in
the past year with both cattle and
hogs. The fall of 1919, owing TO the
fact that there was a poor corn crop
and the grain was all high priced. q
great many sold their hogs very close,
with the result that the markets were
flooded and prices vent down to s
1-2. while within six months they
were flooded and price ven down but
were back up again to almost double
that price. 4,a.
The knowledge M experience
gained in a number of years in hand
ling one breed or kind Of stock, is a
very valuable asset, and the longer
one continues with a certViu line,
the more SURF should be Of succeed
ing with it.
One Breed Enough on q Farm.
There is alsol a great mistake in
keeptng more than one breed of cat
tie. hogs r sheep, or chickens on a
farm. as it is also a mistake to try to
gain by crossing the different breeds.
The different breeds of live stock are
the result of years and years Of care
full work on the part of some Of the
best farmers in the world, and for
prove on these breeds by crossing is
as great a mistake as III be made.
OF the different beef breeds of cat
tie, it is in reality only a question OF
personal like and dislike. The same
is true largely of the dairy breeds. If
this wa not so. We would not find all
breeds represented and having their
advocates.
AS a matter Of convenience, It
would be preferable to nave a single
breed represented in a neighborhood.
exchanged with a minimum OF eX-
pense. and there is also a big advan-
tage in having a single breed in a
community for the reason that the
stock when sold is uniform and will
commend a higher price. Hence, in
many cases it would be good advice
for the farmer who has no live stock
ITO get the kind that predominates in
his neighbrhood.
Essentials In Handling Live Stock.
There are a few essentials in the
handling of live stock that will make
for success.
First. Study and Observation. The
agricultural department at Washing
ton has issued many valuable bulle-
tins on every phase of the live stock
industry. from how to feed and care
for the various kinds, to the diseases
and treatment of these diseases.
These bulletins and booklets are
available to anyone making inquiry
for them. The report on the study
of diseases Of farm animals is espe-
cially valuable and should be on every
farm where there is any amount OF
live stock kept. A'great deal is also
Ito be learned by observing what /.
done by others in your neighborhood.
and also by visiting fairs where live
stock is shown.
Second. Begin Modestly. The mar
who has not had any considerable
experience with live stock would be