The independent-reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1909-1955, 1923-07-19
Beef Breeding in New England

tBy l)f- ~ ). oculhc' PiN'
general manager, Jefferson FARMS
Inc, Jefferson, Maine.)
FoREWORD
In view of the widespread and ever
growing interest In beef production
in New England. and as a result Oh
the large number OF questions on the
management OF Jefferson Farms, Inc.
has deemed it advisable to write a
series of articles. We have endeav-
ored to cover the subject of beef pro-
duction from every angle so far as
is possible In so limited space.
We realize that there are many ques-
tions that will arise from time to
time that have not been discussed in
this series. We welcome questions
from all interested and will answer
them promptly and cheerfully. our
business is producing purebred Aber-
deen-Angus cattle and Duroc Jersey
Swine, and we have endeayored to
discuss the question of beef produc-
ton without showing any Partially
as to breed, as we have great In
terest in the welfare OF Agricultural
New England, and feel that since
new era is about to unfold 1t behooves
all of us who are honestly interested
in the improvement and development
of this section to do our part In I'M
shackling the wheels Of progress.
BEEF BREEDING IN NEW ENGLAND
The production of beef cattle was
formerly an important and highly de-
yeioped Industry in New England.
The opening up Of the western ranges
the division of the eastern farming
lands into small farms, and the adop-
ton of more intensive farming in the
East due to increased population,
caused the decline in beef production
in the Eastern States. In New ENG
land especially 1t was to large ex-
tent supplanted by dairying, although
a number of high-grade, purebred
herds of the various beef breeds have
been maintained, and in some OF the
counties steer feeding has always
been profitable industry.
Agricultural conditions are again
changing. The western ranges are
being divided into homesteads, for
mer grazing lands are beng Guilt
waited, and even Government forest
reserves are being so managed that
very little grazing Is allowed. Farms
in the Middle West are commanding
high prices, while those in the East
are selling for low prices due to de-
pleted soil fertility. The production
and proper management OF more
livestock on these farms will do much
toward building up soil fertility. In
addition, at present beef is In great
demand and beef cattle of all kinds
are selling for high prices. These
conditions are causing renewed fn-
terest In beef cattle. production In
New England. Purebred animals OF
the beef breeds are in demand for
breeding purposes. II good judy
ment is exercised, beef cattle produc-
tion may be proftably extended In
many sections of the =, East, where
pastures, shade and water ABOUND.
Many breeders will produce pure
bred stock, but the majority will pro-
duce grade stock for market, as this
requires a smaller outlay for founda-
tion stock and less care and man
agement. The grading up of COM
mon stock, by the use OF a purebred
bull is advised. especially for the be-
ginner. Should he desire to take up
the production of purebreds, he need
only add a few pure bred cows, and,
as experience Is gained, his herd Will
increase In the number of purebreds
SO that by the time he Is rady to
handle beef cattle on a larger scale
he will have small herd of pure
breds with which to work.
The quality of the foundation cows
may vary according to the length OF
time the breeder has in which to build
up his herd or the amount OF money
he has for his Initial invest
ment. The better the stock with
which the breeder begins, the more
valuable will be the offspring and
the sooner the herd will attain high
standard of quality. In general, the
cows should be the most
fleshed beef cows obtainable.
blocky and compact, and as large
as possible without being coarse and
lacking in quality or femininity. It
is essential that they be regular
and that they produce
enough milk to suckle strong, vigor-
ous calves.
The bull should be purebred and
the best that can be obtained with
In the financial limits of the breeder,
regardless of whether the cows are
grade or purebred. He should al-
ways be considerably better than the
COWS on which he is used, for only in
this way is a herd graded up. Sue,
ceeding bulls should be not only of
the same breed, but Of the same type
and good representatives of their
breeds, so that the resulting or
spring may be uniform in type. In
the bull should be blocky
and compact, close to the ground,
with top and bottom lines parallel
and of even width from front to back
when viewed from above. He should
be we'll let down In the twist.
Breast, neck and head should indi-
cate masculinity and the power to
reproduce. 1
OF COWS DURING
THE BREEDING SEASON
The age at which beef heller
should be bred for the first time de-
ponds on her previous growth and
Ordinarily a we'll
grown beef heifer. should be bred at
l. o;rttn1o x,,ontbo opd ahoiIId