490 IOWA DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE 



much bulk when fed in extremely large quantities during the latter part 

 of the operation. Of course alfalfa hay makes a very valuable adjunct 

 to silage for two-year-old cattle. It has been found that it must be fed 

 somewhat sparingly to calves at least until they have been thoroughly 

 accustomed to it. It has been proved time, time and again that for the 

 most satisfactory results in feeding older cattle that some supplemental 

 feed must be used. Probably the most important supplemental feeds are 

 some form of cottonseed meal or cottonseed cake and linseed meal. The 

 amounts to be fed will depend upon the time of the feeding operation 

 and also the age of the cattle; usually, however, from 2i/^ to 3 pounds 

 per day for each 1,000 pounds of live weight has been found to be the 

 most satisfactory. 



THE DUTY OF OUB IOWA FABMEKS. l 



It is the farmers' duty to feed the people of the nation. This cer- 

 tainly must include meat supplies, one of the most important of which 

 is beef. He must raise more cattle. Present indications are that the 

 prices of beef cattle will be sufficiently high to make beef cattle raising 

 profitable. Authorities tell us that strict grain farming robs the soil of 

 its fertility. If beef production has any one thing to recommend it, it 

 is its ability to conserve the soil fertility of the farm. There really is 

 no more important problem for the farmer than the maintenance and 

 building up of the soil fertility. Some of the factors which are neces- 

 sary to insure success in the beef producing business are: First, the 

 building of more silos and the utilizing of all of the roughage of the 

 farm; second, more and better blue grass pastures. Many farmers un- 

 derestimate the value of the pasture land. In some of the parts of the 

 old country where live stock farming is the principal occupation, the 

 pasture lands are valued more highly. Third, growing of more clover 

 and alfalfa. Fourth, keeping the heifers and putting them into the 

 breeding herd rather than selling them because of an advance in price 

 on the market. For some time past heifers have been selling practically 

 as high as steers if they were equally well finished. Fifth, by the use 

 of better breeding stock. This is absolutely necessary if success Is to be 

 had. The grand champion steer at the recent International is an ex- 

 ample of the influence of good blood. This steer, Glencarnock Victor II, 

 twenty-six or twenty-seven months of age, had for a granddam an old 

 red nurse cow, two crosses of pure bred Angus bulls, together with 

 proper feeding, produced this wonderful steer. Really no better example 

 of what good blood will do has ever been shown in the history of Ameri- 

 can show yards. 



I believe tliat the question of baby beef production on the or- 

 dinary farms in this state is profitable. We are going to know next 

 year just how profitable it is. The Animal Husbandry section of 

 the Experiment Station has now the co-operation of one of the beef 

 producing plants in this state in obtaining tlie cost of production, 

 and that is something that nobody really seems to know at the 

 present time. "We hope to have figures at that time which will bo 

 of use and benefit to you, 



