Tabor City tribune. (Tabor City, N.C.) 1946-1991, 1950-11-01
Your County
Agent Says
BY CHARLES RAPER

1.-THE cow-and-calf plan, or pro
duction of milk-fat calves, is a
practical, simple way for many
Columbus County farmers to
grow into the business of pro.
ducing beef" says Charles D
Raper, County Agent.
Livestock authorities point out
that it efficiently uses available
feeds, produces a type of beef
in demand at local markets in
the South and Southwest, and
requires a minimum of capital.
You can start this program
with native COWS, a good beef
bull, good pasture and a reserve
roughage. Feed COWS plenty of
protein for good milk flow and
creep-feed calves for extra
weight, bloom and finish at
weaving. The calves are usually
sold as milk fat slaughter beef
at weaving time; however, cal,
YES of good beef quality may be
given additional fattening in the
dry lot if market and feed condi'
tons justify.
Select COWS for health, unifor
nifty and ability to produce
enough milk to raise a milk fat
calf. They maybe beef cows OF
native COWS with some dairy
breeding. A well-bred beef bull
will get calves which have de
sirable beef characteristics at
weaving time even though the
mother COWS may have some
dairy breeding. Breeding tc
calve in the fall or winter usually
makes best use of good pastures
at the time calves need the most
milk, said Mr.. Raper.
Cows obtain most of their
feed from good pastures and
stalk fields. Additional rough
age such as hay, should be fed
when pastures do not supply a
good fill. Minerals should al
ways be available to COWS and
calves. Because good milk pro,
duction for the calves is neces-
sary to produce milk-fat at Weas-
ing time, the COWS must have
sufficient protein. Excellent
green pastures provide plenty of
protein but when pastures are
short it will be necessary to feed
some grain and protein feed.
Creep-feeding calves supple
ments milk in producing bloom
and finish with a small amount
of grain. Locate creep-feeders
conveniently so calves will have
an opportunity to eat as often
as they desire. A good mixture
for creep-feeding until calves
are four months old is: 200 lbs
of cracked corn; 100 pounds OF
oats, coarscly ground barley or
wheat; and so pounds Of cotton
scad meal. After calves are four
months old, change the mixture
to 500 to 600 pounds OF coarsely-
ground farm grains and 100
pounds of cottonseed meal.
Good quality calves kept for
additional feeding in the drylet
after weaving should be started
on feed carefully. During the
first part of the feeding period,
provide plenty of roughage and
the same concentrate mixture
they received in the calf creep,
After the calves are well-settled
in the feedlot, gradually change
the mixture to: 1000 pounds of
coarsely ground farm grains, 1926
pounds of cottonseed meal, Is
pounds of calcium supplement
and Is pounds of salt. Since the
calves are already accustomed to
selffeeding, they maybe settled
the concentrate mixture of it
maybe settled the concentrate
mixture or it maybe hand fed in
amounts which they will clean
up in 80 to As minutes. After cal,
YES have been in the fattcning
lot for several weeks, the rough
age ration should be gradually
reduced to encourage consump-
ton Of fattening grains. If cal
yes remain in the dry lot longer
than 60 days, feed 2 pounds of
bright-grain legume hay, daily,
to provide vitamin A.
Farmers should put quality