Vernon Parish Democrat. (Leesville, La.) 1917-193?, 1921-11-03
MINERAL MATTER
NEEDED FOR STOCK
By George D. Coleman

States where stock-raising is more or
less of gamble. Reproduction is too
uncertain, diseases of certain kinds are
too prevalent, to make the raising Of
stock profitable or safe.
In Washington, Montana, Oregon,
and in Wisconsin. many pigs are born
hairless or bristleless and with goitegs
and these generally die and often the
loss is enormous. There is a section
in Texas where cattle have what is
called loin disease. 1t has been found
that this is due to their not getting
enough mineral matter in their feed,
for when they are moved out of that
section they cease to suffer from that
disease. Bulletin No. 945 of the U. S.
Agricultural Dept. tells something Of
this and declares it is due to lack of
mineral matter and that by adding lime
and phosphorus the stock is greatly i'm
proved. Competent authorities tell us
that lime, phosphorus, sulphur, chlor-
inc, magnesium, and iron are the min
eral elements or salts that are most Of
ten found to be deficient in the ration
or feed. Ioline is also of much impor-
lance, as it prevents the occurrence of
goiter or big neck in young animals.
Florine, silicon, manganese, and aIu-
minum are not found in any great
amounts and thus far have not been
given much attention. The functions
OF mineral matter or elements in the
body are: Giving rigidity or stiffness
as we'll as permanence to the skeleton
(and they are essential as parts of the
solid portions Of the muscles and other
they govern the functions of
and nerve tissue; they in
tluence the vital functions and regu-
late the internal bodily fluids. 1t is
Tar cheaper to supply these deficien-
cles than to try to cure these diseases
after they have gained foothold, or
70 pay the losses made by the poor con-
1itions of the stock. The University
Of Wisconsin has been making expert
nents since 1907 of IA years, and
has proved conclusively that when and
where these elements are lacking thew
IAN be cheaply and effectively rene
lied by supplying the most lacking
elements. 1t has also been found out
hat when Underground limestone is
applied to the land when deficient, the
grasses and crops contained more of
hese elements needed, and thei. stock
Produced much better. Our lands.
UGH as our State Agricultural College
las analysed and found deficient as
he Vernon Parish lands were shown.
ne grasses naturally produced are de-
lclent. The wire grass or pine lands
raises are not only scanty in, growth,
tut on some lands are only a little
1ore nutritious than snowbaIIs. Who
It who does not know that lands con
oils produce more nutritious natural
RAISES than land deficient in lime and
'hosphorus. Take the king of the
rasses, alfalfa. 1t cannot be grown
n our lands here. 1t can be grown
'hen lime, phosphates, and sulphur
r sulphate of lime, and organic mat
er is supplied The same with the
AIMED blue grass of Kentucky - it
annot be grown here, but could be
rown if the needed elements are ap-
lied to the soil. There will not be any
lccesstul or prosperous agriculture on
lie soils of West Louisiana or Vernon
r bordering parishes until at least the
cultivated fields are given the elements j
eeded. | have noted in the short
me | have been in Vernon Parish. by h
lie few cattle, hogs, and mules | have
cen, that they all show the lack of
lese: mineral elements. What is com
lonly called hide-bound in the North
noticeable on every mule or horse
have seen in the Parish, and it is
condition of poor nutrition. that
lakes them logy, " with little energy,
nd slow and unambitious Of | NAV
Sc the term. Until the needed lime,
hosphorus, potash, sulphur, and chic
me are supplied, this condition will
ontlnue to exist. Their digestion is
DOR, and, naturally. their assimilation
lso, and their ribs can be counted
nth the eye; their coats are rough;
nd if you try to gather together their
lin, it is found tight and not flexible
1t should be in a aforementioned
nimal. But until the soils are brought !
p to healthy condition, we can make t
short cut and change the condition
f the animals. {