THIRD ANNUAL YEAR BOOK — PART VI. B15 



gain in hogs following them. Where soaked corn was fed it required 4,150 

 pounds of corn fed to the steers to produce 100 pounds of gain in hogs 

 working over the droppings, or 100 pounds of grain fed to the steers pro- 

 duced 2.4 pounds of gain with hogs working over the droppings of steers 

 so fed. 



The writer has answered at considerable length, hoping that the 

 figures given will be appreciated by stockmen generally, for they bear 

 on a question of great importance throughout the corn belt. 



THE YOUNG CATTLE BREEDER. 



Wallaces' Farmer. 



Among our readers throughout the west there are doubtless many 

 hundred young men who are debating the advisability of starting in the 

 pure-bred cattle business. One of these has submitted to us the follow- 

 ing: 



"Will it pay a young farmer who has a quarter section Iowa farm 

 with fair improvements and practically out of debt to go into the business 

 of breeding pure-bred cattle? If your answer is yes, should he buy just 

 good average cattle of good breeding but not fancy or should he buy some 

 of the higher priced kinds of the more fashionable breeding but no bet- 

 ter individually? I have a liking for good stock, but want some advice 

 before going into the business of breeding pure-breds." 



I would advise a young farmer in circumstances such as described 

 by all means to engage in the business of breeding fine cattle, but in a 

 conservative manner. He must not think he has to have all the highest 

 priced cattle to be found. Buy good individuals, well bred ones. By this 

 I do not mean tnat he must have pure Scotch or pure Bates among Short- 

 horns, but the good old-fashioned kind, such as Rose of Sharons, Young 

 Marys, etc., well topped out — cattle that have come up through breeders 

 whose name opposite the name of an animal in the catalogue is a guar- 

 antee of itself that the animal must have been a good one. Then as cir- 

 cumstances will permit and conditions seem to require, add one or two 

 fancy bred ones, so that in time he will have young things to suit all 

 classes of buyers. In selecting a bull to head his herd, the utmost care 

 should be taken. It would be well for him, being a novice in the busi- 

 ness, to go to some breeder in whom he has utmost confidence and get 

 him to assist in the selection. I have no hesitancy in advising a young 

 man, one who has a natural love for fine stock, to engage in the business. 

 Years ago when I first started breeding Shorthorns in a very modest war 

 I fed steers and milked cows for the milk and butter they would produce, 

 and also for a period of years during the great depression. In all kinds 

 of cattle, my Shorthorns paid me far better than either my milk cows or 

 •teera. F. A. EDWARDS. 



Webster county, Iowa. 



