Phillips County herald., 1922-02-03
Summer Fattenina in Corn Belt on

Summer Fattenina in Corn Belt on
prepared by the United States Department
of Agrcuture.)
Although corn belt cattle feeders
have lost money the last two Years.
yet on the average for five years or
more the industry has been profitable
on many farms and is Il line of pro
duction which will continue TO be an
important branch of American agri-
culture.
The bureau of animal industry,
United States Department of Agricul-
ture. has recently issued Farmers
Bulletin No. 1918, Beef Production in
the Corn Belt which contains valu-
able suggestions to the corn belt feed
ers on the economical production of
beef.
The investigations on which the bull
letin Is based were conducted by the
department on 9O6 farms of the corn
from raising calves or buying feeders
to the marketing Of the finished steer,
Is treated in considerable detail.
The general tendency In the corn
belt to plow up permanent pastures
and produce more cultivated crops
caused decline in beef raising, but
the keeping Of cows 10 raise calves
has continued TO be profitable on
land too rough. too wet. or too in
fertile for cultivation. The reduction
of pasture has been compensated for
to some extent by the greater use Of
clover. alfalfa. and corn silage. How
ever. since 1905 there has been some
ipcyease in feeder production In the
corn belt due to the breaking up of
western ranges for dry farming and
irrigation.
The investigation, which was car
ried on for three years. showed that
the feed cost Of keeping n COW was
90 per cent Of the entire cost Of main-
tenance for year, while 81 per cent
represented interest. labor. equipment
and incldentals The total number Of
cows on the 9O6 farms was 2325s. nm
average of % to the farm. The per
cent Of calves raised was practically
50. II was found that costs could he
reduced through three fnctors--in.
creasing the credits from the cons,
,improyihg the herd, and economy in
feellna
esF1y Fall Buying Of Feeders Best.
When feeders IRE not raised on the
farm buying and selling ability plays
an important part. In some seasons
certain weights AID classes OF cattle
may be purchased more economically
than others. Ordinarily early fall buy
ing Is preferable. MS competition he
tween packers aud feeders usually In
crenses as winter approaches.
The higher the quality Of the feeder
steer the better use he will make of his
feed. though he usually eats more Of
II. But this consideration should not
cause the buyer TO lose sight Of the
price. Fleshy feeders can often be
used to advantage on short feeds, and
when there are very good prospects
for higher prices. The older the AMI
mai the quicker II will fatten. as II
will use less feed for growth and
more for fat production.
Mature feeders fatten In three 10
four months. two-year-olds In TO
months. ycarlngs In eight to ten
months, and calves IN ten 10 twelve
months. Older cattle use roughnges
more advaningeously. but In general
young animals make more economical
use OF MI feeds. Mature cattle re-
qulrc from nine 10 eleven pounds Of
,Iigestlble nutrients 10 make n pound
OF gnIn. whcrens yenrllngs use SIX to
eight pounds. and cnlves only four
"a six pounds.
Feeding cntilc for the mnrhei ~
simply one method of marketing the
crops. ON 2sI firms IN the corn hclt
nm average of ~ per cent Of the 1919
crops was fed 10 cnitlc. Fnlly 10 per
cent of the fnttcncd cattle IN this
.nrcn nrc dry-lot fed aud are mnrketel
before July I. Tie various methods
of feeding aud the feeds used are fully
,llsrtSsrd IN the bulletin.
Feed Alfalfa and Glover Hay.
Alfnlfn and clover hny nre by far ihc
most popular dry fnughng"s. ms theF
take The place of commercial protein
conrcnifnioa 10 u inrge extent. Grass
hnys. with the exception of timothy
mixed with clover are very little
used. The USE Of sioyers nnd rirnwS
has n direct bearing ON the economy
~ rnins. and MI such feeds should he
used on the farm.
The most popular protein eoneen-
frnics In The corn belt nrc coiionseei
meal nnd cake nnd lInreed meal Corn,
onfs, and bnrlcy nre the carbohydrate
concentrates most used. Molnsses
feed nnd other miscellaneous ron.
ren,rates ARE IN much demand In some
sections Supplying protein Is "f more
concern 10 the entile feeder ihnn sup.
plying the other constituents OF the