Southern planter - The W&M Digital Archive

More documents

Recommendations

Info

24 THE SOUTHEEN PLANTEE. stover group, 1.30 pounds, and the silage and grain groups, 1.38 pounds. 12. The silage fed group made a pound of gain at a cost of 4.28 cents; the hay fed group, at a cost of 6.45 cents; the stover group at a cost of 4.23 cents, and the silage and grain group at a cost of 4.92 cents. These figures show emphatically the economy of silage as a straight ration for stockers when properly made and preserved. 13. It is apparent from these results that cattle fed as stockers and fattened on grass can be handled on a much narrower margin than those fed in the stall. In this experiment a fair profit was made on a margin of 25 cents, and an excellent profit on a margin of 50 cents. On a margin of $1.00, the profit from the stockers was $197.02 as compared with a profit of $26.63 with those finished in the stall. 14. The figures for both years correspond quite closely and show that straight silage or silage and grain is the most economical ration for use with stockers in the winter. Moreover, that the handling of stockers" and finishing them on grass is the most economical practice to pursue in sections where good grazing is available. 15. The cost of making a pound of gain was practically twice as much with the stall fed cattle 'as with those handled as stockers, but the conclusion should not be drawn from this statement that stall feeding will never be a profitable practice. 16. These facts justify us in recommending farmers to build silos and utilize silage in their winter feeding operations, and it is believed that its extensive use will give a new impetus to animal industries throughout ithe South. ANDREW M. SOULB. SCRUB vs. PURE-BRED CALVES FOR FEEDING. Editor Southern Planter: • The article by "P." in your November issue relative to the comparative profits in feeding scrub and pure-bred cattle is certainly the most interesting, complete and con- vincing comparison of the two lines of cattle raising I have ever read. It shows conclusively what I have known all the time—that there is much greater profit in raising pure-bred than scrub cattle where you keep cows and raise your own calves. It, however, fails to get at the particular situation I asked for information upon— i. e., does it pay to keep full-blooded cows a whole year to produce one full-blooded calf when I can buy thrifty scrub calves at $3 each at weaning time? I know from five years experience that there is good money in buying these calves and raising them; but if I can make more by keeping the full-blooded cows to raise the calves in- stead of paying $3 for the scrubs I would adopt that plan. "P." asks for an estimate of cost and value of these calves after being kept until ready for the butcher. "P.'s" figures as to what his full bloods and high grades weigh and sell for are so far above anything I have ever seen accomplished in this section that I am ashamed to quote my "scrub" figures against his, but as information is what I am after I will give my experience, which is about the same as others in this section. I buy calves in the spring or early summer at from six weeks to four months old at from $2 to $5; they average $3. I put them on bluegrass lawn and feed bran or shorts for a few [January, weeks—not over $1 worth—to get them started off after being taken from the cow; then turn into pasture of native grass—herds grass, broom straw, weeds, etc.—and give no further attention until late fall, except to salt. As the crops are harvested they have the run of these fields all winter as well as growing rye, oats, etc. About November first they are usually housed in open shed at night and fed rough feed, such as wild grass hay, wheat, oat and rye straw; corn stover (corn cut down, ears taken off and cut up) and sorghum hay, but no grain. No account of the number of pounds fed is kept, but the feed they consume would be well priced at $5; in fact, on account of most of its rough and bulky nature would be hard to sell at all. About May first they are again put on native pasture. In the fall they are sold at about eighteen months old for $18 to $20 each. They have thus cost me about $8, exclusive of the pasture, for which I get $9 to $12, and a good price for a lot of rough feed. The manure made in winter is carefully saved and I figure pays me well for all work attending to and feeding them, and as I can easily carry twenty-five or thirty each season on my 150-acre farm I think it pays me, and my farm is increasing in fertility all the time. "RBTRAC." DUAL PURPOSE CATTLE—RED POLLS AGAIN. Editor Southern Planter: Just to keep my good friend, Mr. Massey, from going wrong—a thing he doesn't often do—1 want to say a word or two about the dual purpose cow. Its distinctive feature of milk and beef is illustrated by the Red Poll, Mayflower, that in the six months' test at Buffalo beat all the Jer- seys, Holsteins, Brown Swiss and French Canadian in butter and yet took on flesh like a beef animal while doing so. To further illustrate, the cow 4475 Brace was a great milker, yet her heifer calf, 10946 Armlet, won first in her class at Norwich Fat Stock Show, weighing 1672 pounds at two and a half years of age; and another of her calves, 9169 Buckle, took first prize on another occasion, weighing 1629 about the same age. 2213 Gleaner, a great dairy animal, gave 14,189 pounds of milk in twelve months and two of her calves, twins, were entered at different stock shows and both were unbeaten in their respective classes, the steer weighing, at one year land five months old 1,238 pounds; two and a half years old, 1,732, and the next year, 2,153 pounds. This, I submit, is what the farmer wants—a cow that gives a fine flow of rich milk and drops a calf that makes a good beef animal. In these days of specialists, we are apt to go too far. The farmer, however, is not ready to give up the country doctor who may be regarded as a dual purpose blessing. Mr. Massey would not advise giving up the country doctor because in some cities good specialists have been devel- oped. Neither should he wish the farmer to lose that other dual purpose friend—the Red Poll—that will bless him with milk, butter and beef all at the same time. 3rother Massey, I know, combines the wisdom of years with that elasticity of mind which shows that he is young yet and still learning, and I hope, if I have understood him aright, he will make amends to the Red Foil and the farmer, whom in other matters he has so much helped. Albemarle Co., Va. SA-ML. B. WOODS.
1908J THE SOUTHERN PLANTER. 25 "A PLEA FOR DEVON CATTLE." Editor Southern Planter: That Devon cattle have not been more generally written about and advertised in the agricultural journals of the country has been a surprise to the writer. I do not mean that they do not have a wide distribution, for they can be found in nearly all the States of the Union, but lit- the less good. They are very deceiving in their weights; they are low to the ground: are smooth, compact, and no flabby parts; well filled up with rich, welHnarbled meat, less offal than almost any other breed, often dressing fifty-five ito sixty per cent, of live weight. As dairy cat> tie, they are amongst the best, so far as quality is concerned, while the quantity may not be as large as some "ON THE BANKS OF THE RIPPLING ALABAMA." Devon Cows and Heifers on Wilcox Stock Farm. Owned by Pritchett & McDaniel, Camden, Ala. tie is ever said about them. The Devon is one of the old- est breeds in the United States, and, as one writer says, "No doubffl, the first furrow turned on the shores of Massachusetts was turned with a Devon ox at the plow; many of the Pilgrim fathers coming from Devonshire and no douibt, brought the red cow of that country with them." That the Devon should be so seldom written about or advertised in our leading farm journals is surely not because the breed has no merits to bring before the people. When we think what the breed has done in many sections to build up the scrub cattle of the country in which they have been introduced, both in the beef and dairy lines, it is certainly worthy of mention among the noted breeds. The great power of the Devon to effect speedy improvement in beef and dairy qualities is the outcome of singular prepotency, and this prepotency is based largely on two things—first, long purity of breeding; second, its stamina. This prepotency rests as much on the stamina of the breed as on its ancient lineage. Have you ever looked studiously on a herd of Devon cows going or coming from pasture? Then you have noticed the lively, easy carriage and the proud tread of the males and stately bearing of the females, the poise of the head, the clearness of the eye—all these things have spoken to you of vigor which, next to long purity in breeding^ is the greatest guarantee of prepotency. One may ask, Are the Devons well adapted to all sections of the country? I answer, yes, for on the bleak hills of Maine as well as the sand dunes of Florida, on the ranches of Texas, they seem to thrive wherever put, showing that they suit all sections. Are they a beef breed? I again answer, yes. While they do not grow as large a.s some of the other breeds, the quality of the beef is none of the noted dairy breeds, the quality of the milk has no superior, making the best of butter. Cows making fourteen to sixteen pounds of butter a week are very common among them, and this on grass alone. I claim for the Devon that they will make as much beef per acre on grass or per bushel of feed consumed as any breed will do, ?nd, for milk and butter, I claim the same. They are easy keepers, good rustlers, always in good heart, and respond readily to good feed, and care. So I claim for the Devon the three B's—Beauty, Beef, Butter—and the best of mlik for family use, making them the true farmer's cow and general purpose breed. Newark, Ohio. J. F. SIS'SON. CATTLE QUARANTINE—NOTICE FOR THE STATE OF VIRGINIA. Notice to Cattlemen, Transportation Companies and Others Operating in Virginia. Open Season.—On and after the fifteenth day of Decem- ber, 1907, until the fifteenth day of March, 190S, cattle originating in the counties below the quarantine line in the State of Virginia, against Texas cattle fever, may be moved for purposes other than immediate slaughter, provided the said cattle have first been inspected at the point of origin, by a duly authorized inspector of the State of Virginia, or an authorized inspector of the Bureau ol Animal Industry, Washington, D. C, and the said cattle have been pronounced free from infection (cattle ticks) by the said inspector, and after the said inspector has given his written pemission allowing the said cattle to be thus moved. Exception 1.—If the said cattle ae to be moved from a farm which is under special quarantine, and the said cat-
Page 2 and 3: WVM^ y Merchandise from Sheriffs' a
Page 4 and 5: and now President of the Georgia St
Page 6 and 7: will be in a better condition for f
Page 8 and 9: 6 THE SOUTHEBN PLANTER [January, bu
Page 10 and 11: FACTORS AFFECTING THE CORN CROP. (C
Page 12 and 13: 10 THE SOUTHEKN PLANTER [January, h
Page 14 and 15: 12 THE SOTTTHEKN PLANTER spread it
Page 16 and 17: 14 THE SOUTHERN" PLANTER. [January,
Page 18 and 19: 16 THE SOUTHERN PLANTER. [January,
Page 38 and 39: 36 THE SOUTHERN PLANTER [January, t
Page 42 and 43: 40 THE SOUTHERN PLANTER [January, L
Page 50 and 51: 48 :he southern planter. [January,
Page 52 and 53: 50 THE SOUTHEKN PLANTEE. [January,
Page 54 and 55: — 52 THE SOUTHERN PLANTER [Januar
Page 58 and 59: 56 EDGEHII.L POULTRY FARM, C. H. DI
Page 62 and 63: 60 THE SOUTHEKN PLANTER. [January,
Page 64 and 65: . «2 THE SOUTHE EN PLANTER [Januar
Page 68 and 69: 66 THE SOUTHERN PLANTER. [January,.
Page 70 and 71: 68 THE SOUTHERN PLANTER. Messenger.
Page 72 and 73: 70 THE SOUTHERN PLANTER [January, R
Page 74 and 75: KING'S IMPROVED COTTON. This variet
Page 76 and 77:
74 THE SOUTHERN PLANTER. [January,
Page 78 and 79:
76 THE SOUTHEKN PLANTER. [January,
Page 80 and 81:
Page 82 and 83:
80 THE SOUTHEEN" PLANTER [January,
Page 84 and 85:
82 tHE SOUTHERN PLANTER. [January,
Page 86 and 87:
Page 88 and 89:
treatment for cure should be such a
Page 90 and 91:
— 88 THE SOUTHERN PLANTER. [Janua
Page 92 and 93:
Page 94 and 95:
Page 96 and 97:
94 THE SOUTHEEN" PLANTEE. [January,
Page 98 and 99:
Page 100:
TWO BIG BANKRUPT STOCKS. 98 THE SOU
show all

Southern planter - The W&M Digital Archive

You also want an ePaper? Increase the reach of your titles

Delete template?

Save as template?