Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1921-11-22

our own needs in this respect we
would be taking a long step for.
ward. Certain it is that the time
is not far distant when we must not
only supply our home market but
help to furnish part of the beef
requirements of other states, and
possibly some foreign countries as
WELL
If we are to engage more extern
sively in beef production it is we'll
| to consider those items upon which
attention should be most strongly
| focused. This is necessary in order
that we may avoid the largest per-
| centage of mistakes and institute
the business most quickly on a prof
liable basis.
The first thing to remember is
that beef production is a specialized
type Of farming and therefore we
must study and consider it careful
ly, and proceed with circumspec-
ton to the execution of the plan
decided upon. First we must con-
siderN the matter Of selecting dams
to be used for the production Of an
improved beef progeny. We might
as well realize at the outset that the
kind of beef animals we have been
attempting to feed out in the past
are not likely to prove profitable. In
the main they are scrubs of an in
ferior type as to size and quality.
They are nondescripts in the best
accepted sense Of that term. The
bony framework Is small, the size
of the animals inferior, and the
length Of time required for finish
in o. nY1tirn1u Thnco
culties will best be met and over
come by the introduction and general
use of purebred sires. On the other
hand, it is Of the utmost Importance
that the very best type of dam be
grade of beef cattle we expect to
raise.
There is q great difference be-
tween animals in this respect, and
we should choose those showing the
greatest degree Of uniformity, the
largest and roOmiest middle pieces,
and which reach a satisfactory de-
gree of maturity in the shortest Pc
Rod of time. We must naturally
depend on the high grade Rative
COWS for the foundation stock on
which to. build an improved type of
and ranges of the southeastern
state. The native cow should be
used because she is here in con-
siderable numbers. is already &C
climated to our conditions, and will
cost less. She is also relatively free
from disease. especially tuberculo-
sis, and possesses a reasonably good
constitution. If we will proceed to
select from our native stock only
those cows that are good breeders,
that are of a large roomy, vigorous
type, and possess a wide, deep con-
formation, an excellent foundation
stock can be obtained at a relative
ly low cost. Only animals should
be chosen which have a good chest.
excellent heart capacity, a strong,
clean, well defined muzzle, and an
alert, bright but gentle eye.
We should now proceed to grade
up the herd. To this end pure
bred sire should be secured. and it
is on this particular point that too
much emphasis cannot be laid. One
can afford to be extravagant in the
case of selecting sire, because he
represents by far. more than half
the herd He should be highly pre-
potent, and be tho descendant of an
ancestry characterized by. desirable
performance in the show ring and
in the breeding herd. The mating
of a sire of this character with cows
of the type indicated should result
in materially improving the herd,
even in the first generation. The
practice should be to select the best
heifer calves from year to year.
eliminating the barren and shy
breeding cows and those that do not
conform in the least degree to the
desirable beef type. "All other calves
should, of course, be sold as wean-
lings at 6 to months old. They
can of course be carried as stockers
or feeders, to be disposed of in one
or two years; or they may be fin
ished as baby beef in 16 to 20
months. Some individuals may find
it desirable to retain the animals in
their herds longer and fatten them
as steers at an older age. In no
event do we think it profitable to
carry them for more than 80
months, however.
It is not necessary to have a large
breeding herd in order to engage in
beef production. 1t would be in
flnitely better for the small farmers
Of the community to club together,
purchase high grade sire, and keep
possibly only a few cows on each
farm. There is enough roughage
available about each homestead to
provide the feed needed for few
animals. If enough has not been
produced in the past it certainly can
be in the future. The greatest prof
it's will arise to the landowner when
this practice is followed, and he
will also find it desirable to feed
his animals literally, and push
them to maturity in the shortest
possible time.
There are three systems of fin
ishing beef in vogue in this country
In the first the attempt is to pro-
duce what may be termed beef"
alone. There is then the type of
enterprise known as that of raising
baby beef" and finally the produc
ton Of "dual-purpose'' animals. In
the first two systems the calves are
allowed to run with the dams until
weaned. None of the cows are ever
MIXED. This saves labor, Of course
Where baby beef is produced it is
generally necessary to feed the calf
through the dam. In other words,
the cow is more highly nurtured
than where the calves are to be
weaned in 6 or s months and then
fed gut say by the end of 20 months.
The straight-beer system Is best
ldapted to regions where pasture is
lbundant. 1t is the plan most ex-
ensively followed in the United
States. 1t is probably the best
type Of practice to use throughout
the south. The baby beef system
is best adapted where highly spe-
cialized agricultural operations are
undertaken. The dual.purpose sys-
tenn is best suited to dairy regions.
AS our dairy industry is, still in it's
incipiency it is type Of beef pro-
duction in which we are not pri.
ma I,ilN inteneSta ed az this ti,.,n