POPULAK POSTULATES OF CACTUS FEEDING. 43 



stipulated time. During- dry seasons the rancher in southern Texas 

 has no difficulty whatever in securing help, for the poorer classes of 

 northern Mexico are very needy at these times and are willing to work 

 at as low a rate as 25 cents per da}' and board. 



The gradual extension of the cotton belt into the pear region is 

 destined eventually to have a very potent influence upon the feeding 

 of pear for fattening stock. The use of pear with cotton-seed products 

 is very much in favor. The development of the pumping project-, 

 together with artesian water in some localities, while withdrawing 

 some lands from direct grazing, will contribute nevertheless very 

 materially to stock raising. The areas devoted to cotton culture will 

 especially contribute a valuable support to the stock industry, and the 

 cotton-seed products will find a ready local market. The pear, fed as a 

 roughage, with these cotton-seed products deprived of the present 

 high transportation rates, will add perceptibly to the ranchers ability 

 to mature the beef which he has always been able to breed success- 

 fully but not always to fatten economically. 



POPULAR POSTULATES OF CACTUS FEEDING. 



Data secured from popular sources appear to warrant the following- 

 conclusions, mam' of which are reservedly stated; it is hoped they can 

 be experimental!}' verified in the near future. 



Prickly pear, although poor in nutritive quality, can be fed to 

 decided advantage under several conditions and for several purposes: 



(1) To save cattle during a prolonged drought, when other more 

 nutritious feed is scarce. 



(2) To fatten cattle, when employed as a roughage with more con- 

 centrated feed. 



(3) When fed with more concentrated foods and some hay or pas- 

 ture, it is a valuable accessory to the dairy ration; it supplies succu- 

 lence which it is difficult to secure in semiarid regions a large part of 

 the year. 



(4) Oxen can be worked on a ration consisting very largely of pear 

 for an indefinite period. 



A full-grown steer fed on pear alone will consume from 125 to 200 

 pounds daily. 



Mature steers, accustomed to a pear diet, can live in a pear pasture 

 a long time without water. 



Oxen worked on pear drink water two or three times a week in 

 summer and once a week in winter. 



A good milk ration of pear, with plenty of other nutritious feed, 

 will consist of from 40 to TO pounds of pear for each animal a day. 



Pear, fed whole, especially when stock has little else to eat, is likely 

 to form fib^r balls and kill a small percentage of cattle during pro- 

 longed feeding. 



