Evening Republican, Volume 17, Number 126, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 27 May 1913 — EXPERT SAYS MORE BEEF CATTLE NEEDED [ARTICLE]

EXPERT SAYS MORE BEEF CATTLE NEEDED

Prof. F. G. King Predicts Shortage and Consequent Good Prices for Ensuing Year. In discussing the subject of beef cattle, F. C. King, of the animal husbandry department Purdue Experiment Station, says: “Indiana needs more beef cattle. Any system of farining whereby the fertility of the soil is allowed to decrease must result in unprofitable farming. Economical maintenance of the soil demands that the rough feed of the farm be consumed by live stock. Cattle are the most efficient animals for conversion of roughage into a product that 1 is salable without great loss of soil fertility. “In addition to the value of cattle for disposition of rough feed and maintenance of soil fertility, seven years’ experience at*Purdue Expert ment Station has shown that there has been approximately $lO profit per steer from feeding cattle. “Assurance for a comparatively high market for some time to come can be found in the general shortage of beef throughout the country. The last decade has seen an increase of more than 20 per cent in the beef consuming public of America and has also witnessed an actual decrease in the number Of beef cattle. “The supply of feeder cattle purchased on the market in 1912 has been approximately 9 per cent less than in 1911. When it is borne in mind that the products of the feed yards of 1912 which returned such high profits were purchased largely in 1911, the shortage of feeding cattle in 1912 should assure comparatively high prices in 1913. “The value of cattle for disposing of rough feed ahd the present assurances of good prices warrant beef producers in continuing their operations in both feeding and breeding cattle.”