The Clio messenger. (Clio, Mich.) 1907-current, 1922-02-02

Summer Fattening in Corn Belt on
prepared by the United States Department
of Agrculture)
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 a 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 906 farms of the corn
belt and every phase of the problem,
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 pillow up permanent pastures
and produce more cultivated crops
caused decline in beef raising, but
the keeping of cows to 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
increase 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 cow was
-eJper cent M the entire cost Of main
tenance for a year, while 81 per cent
represented interest. labor, equipment
and incidentals. The total number of
cows on the 9O6 farms was 2325S, an
average of % to the farm. The per
cent of calves raised was practically
So. 1t was found that costs could he
reduced through three factors-in-
creasing the credits from the cows
improving the herd, and economy In
feeding
Early Fall Buying Of Feeders Best.
When feeders are not raised on the
farm buying and selling ability plays
an important part. In some seasons
certain weights and classes of cattle
may he purchased more economically
than others. Ordinarily early fall buy
ing is preferable, as competition be-
tween packers and feeders usually in
creases 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
IT, But this consideration should not
cause the buyer to lose sight of the
price. Feshy feeders can often be
used to advantage OH short feeds and
when there are very good prospects
for higher prices. The older the ami
NAL the quicker it will fatten, as 1t
will use less feed for growth and
more for fat production.
Mature feeders fatten in three 10
four months, two-year-olds in D to
months, yearlings in eight to ten
months, and calves i'm ten TO twelve
months. Older cattle use roughages
more advantageously, but in genera
young animals make more economical
use of all feeds. Mature cattle re-
quire from nine to eleven pounds OF
dlgestible nutrients to make pound
of gain, whereas yearlings use six TO
eight pounds, and calves only four
to six pounds.
Feeding cattle for the market is
simply one method Of marketing the
crops. On 2S7 farms In the corn belt
an average of 30 per cent Of the 1919
crops was fed to cattle. Fully 80 per
cent of the fattened cattle in this
area are dry-lot fed and are marketed
before July 1. The various methods
of feeding and the feeds used are fully
discussed in the bulletin.
Feed Alfalfa and Glover Hay
Alfalfa and clover hay are by far the
most popular dry roughages, as they
take the place of commercial protein
concentrates to a large extent. Grass
HAYS. with the exception of timothy
mixed with clover, are very little
used. The use Of stovers and straws
has direct bearing on the economy
OF gains. and all such feeds should be
used on the farm.
The most popular protein concen-
trates in the corn belt are cottonseed
meal and cake and linseed meal Corn,
oats and barley are the carbohydrate
concentrates most used. Molasses
feed and other miscellaneous con-
centrates are in much demand In some
sections. Supplying protein Is Of more
concern To the cattle feeder than sup
piyine the other constituents Of the