Purebred Versus
Scrub Cattle in Polk County
Keeping livestock
on the farm is absolutely necessary if soil fertility is to be maintained, and
it is just as easy and certainly more economical to keep purebred stock as it
is scrub stock. This applies to all kinds of livestock, be it cattle, pigs, or
poultry. Good stock is not only a source of personal pride and satisfaction,
but it enhances the agricultural value of the community or county where it is
found. It is a unit of measure in agricultural progressiveness.
Dairying is one
phase of farming that is neglected in Polk County. Recent statistics show there
are 1,225 farms in the county, and only six of them are carrying on dairying;
that have as many as 10 cows and make it, there are just six farmers who have
dairying as their main source of income. Practically every farmer in the county
owns one or two cows, and in the latter case he has some milk or butter to
place on the local market occasionally.
Unfortunately,
there are very few registered cows in the county, and most of them are owned by
one dairyman. In fact, this county ranks low in the number of purebred cows
when compared to other counties in the state. Why do our cattle stay at such a
low ebb? Principally because we permit the use of scrub sires and as a consequence
we get a crop of calves that, when mature, will produce no more or richer milk
than their dams. Of course, there are exceptions. A recent survey has shown
there are approximately 20 scrub or grade sires in Polk County against two
registered ones. This is certainly a wide ratio, and we should endeavor to
better our condition by replacing the scrub with the more desirable and
profitable purebred. A registered sire costs more than a grade. However, the
offspring is likewise more valuable. We know that a well bred cow will usually
produce more milk and amilk richer in butter-fat than her degraded sister.
The county agent is
planning to hold two meetings in the county next week, to which all farmers are
invited, especially those interested in promoting the dairy business and in
getting better bulls and cows on their farms. Important phases of dairy work,
such as feeding, pastures, marketing dairy products and the possibilities of
establishing a cream station in our county, will be discussed.
The dates and places
of the meetings are:
Green’s Creek
School, Tuesday, June 22, 8:15 p.m.
Courthouse at
Columbus, Wednesday, June 23, 2:30 p.m.
The speakers at
these meetings will be Mr. F.R. Farnham, dairy specialist for Western North
Carolina; Mr. J.D. Kelly, agricultural agent for the Southern Railway, and Mr.
J.R. Same, pasture specialist.
No comments:
Post a Comment