1832 
December 13, 
Live Stock and Dairy 
BEEF MAKING IN THE EAST. 
Can profit be made by buying young 
range cattle (feeders) after the plan of 
our Middle West friends, but instead of 
feeding grain as they do, carry stock on 
cheap Eastern pasture land with hay 
when necessary; and say six weeks of 
corn for the final finish? Or the other 
phase of it; what of breeding the beef 
animals on the place, grading up by 
means of purebred Angus or Hereford 
bulls? Rough shelter to be provided with 
hay in Winter, pasture at other seasons. 
Very short period of grain finishing. 
New York. A. c. 
The question of beef production in the 
East is of interest to a great many farm¬ 
ers who have been discouraged in dairy¬ 
ing, due to the low cost of market milk, 
the high cost of unsatisfactory labor, and 
the annoyance of ignorant inspectors and 
unreasonable boards of health. Natur¬ 
ally they turn to beef or pork production. 
The limiting factors of this enterprise at 
present time are the high cost of feed¬ 
ers of questionable age, and the exces¬ 
sive rates of transportation. In other 
words, the loss of a single animal added 
to the original cost, plus the transporta¬ 
tion charges, is often sufficient to neutral¬ 
ize any and all profit that might result 
from the enterprise. The cheap grazing 
lands with their luxuriant grasses and 
natural condition of shade and water are 
well adapted for the grazing and growing 
of beef cattle. If in addition to the for¬ 
age they are fed some cornmeal with 10% 
of cotton-seed meal added, gains will be 
more rapid and economical, and the sug¬ 
gested feeding period of six weeks might 
put the animals in average condition. 
However, it is very probable that a long¬ 
er feeding period would- be required in 
case the animals are marketed as prim¬ 
ers at top prices. The unfortunate thing 
facing the Eastern farmer is the fact that 
local butchers will pay very little more 
per pound, if any, for beef steers grown 
and fattened under these conditions, than 
they will pay for representatives of the 
dairy breeds that have been fattened and 
discarded from the dairy herd. The sug¬ 
gestion made by your enquirer of breed¬ 
ing beef animals on the farm would de¬ 
pend entirely upon his location and the 
markets. Foundation stock of the beef 
breeds would be necessary, as it would 
be folly to use beef sires on dairy fe¬ 
males with the hopes of evolving an an¬ 
imal adapted for beef production. Here 
again the original cost of the females is 
an item, which almost prohibits such en¬ 
deavor for the same reason that was sug¬ 
gested with the feeders. I am satisfied 
that the time will come when the Eastern 
farmer will grow on his own farm meat 
products to supply local demands, as 
well as in sufficient quantities to meet 
the demands of the public who prefer 
fresh meat to cold storage beef. To this 
end it will be noted that dairy animals 
are invading the West, replacing in many 
cases herds of beef animals, while at the 
same time beef animals are coming East 
in small numbers to be utilized in areas 
well adapted for pasturing and convert¬ 
ing roughage into salable products as is 
suggested by your correspondent. The 
only really safe way to solve the prob¬ 
lem would be to try the enterprise in a 
small way, in order to determine if such 
arrangement were adapted to the condi¬ 
tions of pasturing, feeding and manage¬ 
ment that could be supplied on the par¬ 
ticular farm. F. c. m. 
METHYLENE BLUE IN CONTAGIOUS 
ABORTION. 
The method of treating contagious abor¬ 
tion in cattle by the use of methylene 
blue, advocated by Dr. Hills of the Ver¬ 
mont Experiment Station, and stated on 
page 116S, has attracted considerable at¬ 
tention, as its importance warrants. The 
value of a reliable and easily adminis¬ 
tered remedy for this scourge of the dairy 
can hardly be overestimated, and further 
experiments with this antiseptic dye¬ 
stuff will be watched with keen interest. 
A correspondent in Alabama suggests that 
the reputed value of laundry bluing, some¬ 
times used in the South as a remedy for 
chicken pox in fowls, may have its ex¬ 
planation in the possession by this bluing 
of the same antiseptic properties which 
make methylene blue efficient in the treat¬ 
ment of contagious abortion. The ordi¬ 
nary laundry bluings are not composed of 
methylene blue, however, but are usually 
either indigo or Prussian blue, the former 
THE RURAL. 
being derived from a plant or syntheti¬ 
cally made from coal tar, and the latter 
being an iron compound. Methylene blue 
has been used in medicine as an antiseptic 
to the urinary tract, though it has never 
taken a very important place in our ma¬ 
teria medica. It is important that chemi¬ 
cally pure, or medicinal, methylene blue 
be used in the treatment of cattle, and 
that this substance be not confounded 
with methyl blue, another compound of 
similar name but different properties. 
Another correspondent is inclined to 
take umbrage at the statement that con¬ 
tagious abortion is a germ disease, and 
asserts that a dairyman of his acquaint¬ 
ance has repeatedly demonstrated that he 
can abolish the disease from any herd 
after visiting the stable and ascertaining 
the cause of the trouble in that herd. 
Unfortunately, this man refuses to dis¬ 
close his “secrets,” and it is impossible to 
judge of the merit of any discoveries that 
he may have made. M. B. D. 
THE PUREBRED SIRE. 
The Ohio Experiment Station, in Cir¬ 
cular 135, gives a very good discussion 
of the plan for “Buildiug Up The Dairy 
Herds of Ohio.” Of course the Station 
recognizes that most of the improvement 
must come through a purebred sire, and it 
gives this advice: 
“The problem of selecting a good sire 
is not always an easy one. At the pres¬ 
ent time the majority of breeders do not 
NEW-YORKER 
per cow per year above that of their 
dams. One Holstein-Friesian bull used 
in the Ohio Experiment Station herd in¬ 
creased the average production of his 
seven daughters 1,299 pounds of milk and 
40 pounds of butter-fat per year above 
that of their dams. Forty pounds of fat 
per year for six years (average producing 
period) by each of seven cows would be 
1,6S0 pounds of fat; 1,680 pounds at 30 
cents per pound equals $504. This ani¬ 
mal cost $100 when a calf. One Jersey 
used in the Station herd decreased the 
average production of his 11 daughters 
over TOO pounds of milk and over 45 
pounds of butter-fat per year below that 
of their dams. Forty-five pounds of fat 
per year for six years by each of 11 cows 
wouid be 2.970 pounds, which at 30 cents 
per pound would equal $891. The im¬ 
mediate difference in money value of these 
two bulls on these herds of less than 20 
cows each was $1,395.00. Both bulls had 
an equally good chance in increase the 
production. The figures given above take 
no account of the advantageous or detri¬ 
mental effect on the progeny of these 
daughters. 
“In improvement by ‘grading,’ it is 
very important that successive sires be 
of the same breed. By using this method, 
a few generations will give animals 
which, so far as appearance and produc¬ 
tion are concerned, cannot be distin¬ 
guished from purebred animals. Four 
generations make them fifteen-sixteenths 
pure. So far as production is concerned, 
a grade herd carefully selected and bred 
to good bulls of one breed is preferable 
to the average purebred herd without 
selection. Indiscriminate crossing, or the 
use of bulls from different breeds, gives 
very uncertain results. It is a serious- 
A HEREFORD OF HIGH QUALITY. Fig. 528. 
keep accurate records of the production 
of their cows, hence are not able to give 
accurate information to prospective pur¬ 
chasers of their bull calves. It some¬ 
times happens that bulls from high-pro¬ 
ducing dams fail to transmit this quality 
to the offspring, but they are much more 
likely to do so than bulls from low-pro¬ 
ducing dams. In using young bulls this 
risk must always be taken. For this rea¬ 
son it is especially important that one 
look carefully into the records of the 
dam and the sire’s dam before purchasing. 
When possible, it is desirable to purchase 
an aged bull which has proved his merit 
by the high production of his daughters, 
provided he is in good health. The ma¬ 
jority of men object to handling aged 
bulls because often they are vicious. For 
this reason very few bulls are kept until 
their heifers are in milk and their pro¬ 
ductive capacity determined. Until this 
time, the sire’s real value is unknown. 
Many a good bull which would have made 
his owner famous has been slaughtered 
at an early age. 
“The selection of the herd bull is of 
the greatest importance because lie is at 
least half the herd from the breeding 
standpoint. His influence on the char¬ 
acteristics of every calf born in the herd 
is as great as that of the dam of the 
calf; and, if he is a purebred animal 
used on grade cows, his influence will be 
more than half because his transmitting 
powers in breed characteristics will be 
stronger. No bull whose dam and pat¬ 
ernal grand-dam were not capable of pro¬ 
ducing 300 pounds of butter-fat in 365 
days should be used for breeding pur¬ 
poses. It would be much better if this 
minimum were set at 350 pounds. Much 
damage has been done by unscrupulous 
and ignorant breeders, who have sold, for 
breeding purposes and at long prices, 
purebred male calves from cows which 
did not pay for their keep, but had a 
long line of purebred ancestry. 
“The apparently high first cost of a 
■good bull is far outweighed by the greater 
value of his progeny. Such a bull, used 
on a common herd, should easily increase 
the average production by his progeny 
1,000 pounds of milk or 40 pounds of fat 
mistake to think that by mating animals j 
of one breed with animals of another 
breed the desirable characteristics of each 
may be retained. The chances are just 
as great that the undesirable character¬ 
istics will be retained. 
“Thus far, stress has been laid on the 
importance of records of production, and 
little lias been said about pedigree. Ped¬ 
igree may be valuable or harmful accord¬ 
ing to the quality of the ancestry. The 
animal with the long pedigree showing 
productive ancestors has its power of 
transmitting productive capacity greatly 
reinforced. More certainly the animal 
having a long list of non-productive an¬ 
cestors has its power of transmitting the 
lack of productive capacity reinforced. 
A sire with such a pedigree as the lat¬ 
ter is decidedly harmful to any herd. 
The wise purchaser will give little credit 
to pedigree unless accompanied by pro¬ 
duction records. To say that an animal 
is purebred is not enough. Some of our 
breeds have been seriously hindered in 
their development in the past by adher¬ 
ing to pedigree rather than production, 
and by failure to discard poor producers, 
which is really more necessary among 
purebred cattle than among grades. Be¬ 
cause of the indiscriminate breeding, the 
unscrupulous sale of inferior bulls for 
this purpose, and the destruction of the 
progeny of good cows, the dairy cattle 
of Ohio have not improved greatly in 
production during the last 10 years, ex¬ 
cept in a comparatively small number 
of herds. Tried bulls or young bulls of 
breeding age cannot always be secured 
readily; therefore, it is well to have a 
young bull growing up to take the place 
of the one in use.” 
Freemartins. 
I have a twin Jersey heifer 17 months 
old. Her mate was a bull. Can you tell 
me whether she will breed? I have never 
seen any sign of it yet. C. c. M. 
West Virginia. 
In many cases the female of this com¬ 
bination is organically imperfect and will 
not breed. Probably your animal is of 
this type. The male is usually normal. 
When you write advertisers mention 
The R. N.-Y. and you'll get a quick 
reply and a "square deal.” See guaran¬ 
tee editorial page. : : : : 
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OR PAIN KILLER FOR THE HUMAN BODY 
Gombault’s ^ 
Caustic Balsam 
IT HAS NO EQUAL 
_ A —— 
r*u —It is penotrat- 
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|L a yores, Bruises,or 
I SI w Wounds, Felons. 
Exterior Cancers, Boils 
U him a m Corns and 
numan Bun ions 
CAUSTIC BALSAM has 
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DUUy a Liniment 
We would say to all 
who buy it that it does 
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of poisonous substance 
and therefore no harm 
can result from its ex 
ternal use. Persistent, 
thorouoh use will cure 
many old or chronic 
ailments and it can be 
used on any case that 
requires an outward 
application with 
perfect safety. 
Perfectly Safe 
and 
Reliable Remedy 
for 
Sore Throat 
Chest Cold 
Backache 
Neuralgia 
Sprains 
Strains 
Lumbago 
Diphtheria 
Sore Lungs 
Rheumatism 
and 
all Stiff Joints 
REMOVES THE SORENESS-STRENGTHENS MUSCLES 
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my rheumatism more good than $120.00 paid in 
doctor'*bills." OTTO A. BEYKR. 
Price 9 1.50 per bottle. Sold by druggists, or sent 
by u* express prepaid. Write for Booklet R. 
The LAWRENCE-WILLIAMS COMPANY. Cleveland. 0. 
ABSORBINE 
M* TRADE MARK REG.U.S.PAT. OFF. 
Will reduce Inflamed, Strained, 
Swollen Tendons, Ligaments, 
Muscles or Bruises. Stops the 
lameness and pain from a Splint, 
Side Bone or Bone Spavin. No 
blister, no hair gone. Horse can be 
used. $2 a bottle delivered. Describe 
your case for special instruction* 
and Book 2 K Free. 
ABSORBINE, JR., the antiseptic liniment for 
mankind. Reduces Strained, Torn Liga¬ 
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MINERAL 
,nuse HEAVE 
REMEDY 
Booklet 
free 
$3 Package CURES any case or money refunded. 
$L Package CURES ordinary eases. 
Mineral Heave ReniedyCo..46l N. Fourth Ave. Pittsburoh.Pa 
Send for booklet. 
Best Conditioner- 
Worm Kxpellcr 
DEATH TO HEAVES 
“Guaranteed or Money Back.” 
Coughs, Distemper, Indigestion 
NEWTON’S 
50c, $1.00 per can. 
Large for Heaves. 
At druggists’ or sent postpaid 
The Newton KemedyCo., Toledo,Ohio 
HORSE LAME? 
Use K INDIG’S Famous 
OINTMENT. A sure cure 
for bone, bog, and blood 
spavin, ringbone, curb, soft bunches, splint, etc. 50 cent*, post* 
paid. E. kiudig, Jr., Remedy Co., 4825 Woodland Ave., Phila. 
COOK YOUR FEED and SAVE 
Half the Cost—with the 
PROFIT FARM BOILER 
With Dumping Caldron. Empties 
its kettleinone minute. The simplest 
and best arrangement for cooking 
food for stock. Also make Dairy and 
tatuudry Stoves, Water and 
Steam Jacket Kettles. Hog 
Scalders, Caldrons.etc. fif Send 
for particulars and ask forcircnlat- J. 
D. li. Sperry & Co., Batavia, III, 
Boils Quickly—Uses tattle Fuel 
Two features cookers ought to have, ami 
Farmers’ Favorite 
Feed Cookers and Agricultural Boilers 
do have. Burn any fuel—cook any feed 
quickly. Will work to your satisfaction or 
wo refund money. Sond for Catalog. 
Sizes range from 25-gal. to 100-gal. 
Lewis Mfg. Co. f Box C, Cortland, N. Y. 
BUY AN ICE PLOW 
nrul save the lee crop. Cut your ic. 
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Ask for catalog and price*. 
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rln principle, quality of steel and grade ( 
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