Full text of Agricultural News Letter : Vol. 9, No. 4

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1CU
F E D E R A L

Vol. 9, No. 4

NEWS LETTER

R E S E R V E

B A N K

OF

DALLAS, TEXAS

D A L L A S

April 15, 1954

A Review of the Cattle Situation
The number of all cattle and calves on the
Nation’s farms and ranches as of January 1,
1954, was 1,040,000, or 1 percent higher than
a year earlier, according to estimates by the
United States Department of Agriculture.
Increases in total cattle numbers were re­
corded in all but seven states. The declines
reported were as follows: Iowa, 6 percent;
Nebraska and New Mexico, 5 percent each;
Arizona, 4 percent; Colorado and Texas, 3
percent each; and Kansas, 1 percent.
The class of cattle showing the largest in­
crease in the Nation was beef cows 2 years
old and over — up 6 percent from a year
earlier. Beef calves, dairy cows, dairy heifers,
and dairy calves increased from 1 to 3 per­
cent, while beef steers declined 11 percent and
beef heifers, 4 percent. In the Southwest the
largest decline occurred in the number of 1and 2-year-old dairy heifers.
The unusually large calf crop in 1953, the
slaughter of a substantial number of steers,
and the marketing of distress cattle from
drought areas yielded an all-time record vol­
ume of beef and veal production. The total
was equivalent to 76 pounds per person —
also a record high. Approximately 36,660,000
head of cattle and calves were slaughtered
in 1953.
Slaughter of cattle and calves during the
first 2 months of 1954 exceeded slaughter
during the comparable months of 1953 by

more than 10 percent. Forecasts by the De­
partment of Agriculture are that production
during the first half of 1954 will exceed the
comparable period a year earlier.
Despite the fact that the number of beef
cows is up 6 percent from a year ago, it is
expected that the 1954 calf crop may not
exceed that of 1953 because the number of
calves saved per 100 cows in 1953 was un­
usually large. Such a favorable record seldom
occurs in two successive years. However,
there will be ample supplies of beef and veal
throughout 1954, and total slaughter for the
year may exceed slightly the record volume
of 1953. The fact that there were 1,000,000
fewer steers on feed on January 1, 1954, as
compared with a year ago indicates that the
proportion of grain-fed cattle marketed may
be smaller than in 1953.
According to the United States Department
of Agriculture, cattle marketings during the
past year or two have followed the typical
cyclical pattern. Marketings of steers and
heifers have increased first, followed by
heavier marketings of calves, with increased
cow and heifer slaughter occurring last. In
1953 the proportion of total slaughter ac­
counted for by cows and heifers increased
sharply to about 31 percent but not sufficient­
ly to halt the rise in total cattle numbers. Past
records indicate that slaughter of cows and
heifers must reach about 44 or more percent
of total number slaughtered before a decline
in cattle population can be expected.

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AGRICULTURAL NEWS LETTER

Shifting From Cash Crops
to Dairying

The Department of Agriculture points out
that the demand for beef continues strong, and
indications are that unless unemployment in­
creases substantially, consumers will continue
to buy large quantities of beef at current
prices. The steady growth in population,
amounting to nearly 7,000 persons daily, is
providing a constantly expanding market for
beef.
An important factor in the demand for beef
in 1954 is the supply of pork available to con­
sumers, Currently, pork production is running
about 15 to 20 percent below a year ago.
However, the United States Department of
Agriculture reports that the 1954 spring pig
crop may be from 6 to 9 percent larger than
a year ago. This would mean an increasing
supply of pork on the market as the 1954
spring pig crop moves to slaughterhouses in
the fall of this year.
The demand for stocker and feeder cattle
in the fall of 1954 will depend upon many
factors, including the price of cattle at the
time, availability of winter pastures, and the
size of the 1954 corn crop. One encouraging
aspect of the prospective demand for feeder
cattle is that grazing and feeding operations
during the 1953-54 season generally were
more profitable than during the previous two
seasons. This usually stimulates larger feed­
ing operations in the subsequent year.
Prices for cattle during 1954 are not ex­
pected to average greatly different from those
in 1953, according to the United States De­
partment of Agriculture. The Department ex­
pects that prices of feeder and stocker cattle
and all lower grade slaughter cattle probably
will decline seasonally, beginning in late
spring. Prices of these classes will be especially
vulnerable during the fall months as heavy
marketings of calves and range cattle occur
and the volume of hog slaughter also increases.

Research at the Texas Agricultural Experi­
ment Substation near Gonzales indicates that
processed poultry offal can be an important
ingredient in chick rations.
Tests are being conducted in which the offal
from poultry is cooked and pressed to remove
fat and about 90 percent of the water and the
resulting meal added to the ration of young
chicks. The rate of growth of chicks receiving
this ration appears to be higher than that of
chicks eating commercial rations with anti­
biotics added, according to Station Superin­
tendent Arthur A, Camp.
The processed offal contains approximately
63 percent protein and includes all the essen­
tial amino acids. These amino acids aid in the
utilization of feed and build body tissues.

During recent years, about one farmer out
of four worked at off-farm jobs more than 100
days annually. In contrast, one out of ten
worked that much off the farm 30 years ago.

Utilization of this waste material from the
processing industry could provide an added
source of income to broiler producers, as well
as furnish high-protein feed for young chicks.
About 1 pound of offal is removed from each

An investment of about $12,600 is required
for a central Texas farmer to shift from a pro­
gram of cash crops to dairying, according to
a study by the Texas Agricultural Experiment
Station. Conducted by A. C. Magee, associate
professor of Agricultural Economics and Soci­
ology, the study covers operations on 24
farms in McLennan, Bell, Coryell, and Bosque
Counties.
Major items in the cost of the change in
farming systems were for buildings and cows.
Other items included feed storage facilities,
fencing, improved pastures, and purchase of
dairy barn equipment. Some farmers in the
group who already had sheds and some fenc­
ing made the change from cash crops to dairy­
ing for about $10,000.

New Product From Broiler
Industry

AGRICULTURAL NEWS LETTER

3-pound broiler during processing, and cur­
rently the offal sells for 50 cents per 100
pounds. About 100,000 birds are marketed
weekly in the Gonzales area, and throughout
the Southwest the total is well over 50,000,000
birds annually.

Fertilize Pastures
Pasture plants require adequate amounts
of nitrogen, phosphate, and potash in order to
produce at a high and efficient level, accord­
ing to Ted Trew, Extension pasture specialist
at Texas A. & M. College.

3

GET A PROGRAM TO CONTROL
COTTON INSECTS
Haphazard application of insecticides
to cotton can be a costly operation. On
the other hand, a welt-planned program
of insect control can be one of the more
profitable expenditures on a cotton farm.
Actual experience by farmers has shown
that a well-organized and successfully
executed insect control program can
double and sometimes triple cotton
yields.
All cotton states have recommended
programs of insect control, which can be
obtained from county agricultural
agents, ginners, and seed dealers.
Make your cotton acres count in 1954!

Most pastures in the Southwest will bene­
fit from the addition of nitrogen fertilizer, and
many of the sandier lands and lighter soils
also are in need of phosphate, potash, and lime
in order to provide essential food for pasture
plants. Mr. Trew points out that these essen­
Mr. Bates suggests that farmers give serious
tial elements are required by pastures, just as consideration to the building of storage space
they are by cotton or corn.
on their farms for their own crops. In many
parts of the Southwest, grain stored on the
The more common signs of lack of nitrogen farm can qualify for the Government price
in pastures are yellowing of plants and decline support program. It is advisable for farmers
in growth. Soil tests should be made to deter­ to check with their local Agricultural Stabili­
mine fertilizer requirements, but, many times, zation Committees regarding the requirements
general recommendations can be obtained for on-the-farm storage and which crops can
from local county agents.
be stored on the farm under the price support
program.

Grain Storage Space Will Be Short

Lack of suitable storage space at harvest
time frequently forces farmers to take much
lower prices for their products. This is espe­
cially true of commodities that are under price
support, as lack of proper storage facilities
makes it impossible for growers to take advan­
tage of the price support program.
Mr. C. H. Bates, Extension farm specialist
of Texas A. & M. College, points out that the
carry-over of grains from previous years,
together with the anticipated production of
wheat and grain sorghums in 1954, will require a great deal more storage space than is
presently available.

Mr. Bates states that loans for constructing
farm storage facilities are available through
the local Agricultural Stabilization Commit­
tees. He reminds farmers that the cost of such
buildings can be written off over a period of
5 years in the computation of Federal income
taxes. Plans for building grain storage facili­
ties are available at no cost from county agri­
cultural agents.
-------------------------Any dairy cow that produces only 5,000
pounds of milk a year barely pays her way
and seldom makes more than a very small
profit for her owner, reports the United States
Department of Agriculture.

4

AGRICULTURAL NEWS LETTER

Fertilizer for High Plains?

chance to recover; they also can be used to
fill the gap between spring grasses and small
The use of commercial fertilizer in the High grains in the fall.
Plains of Texas has gained momentum in re­
One acre of temporary pasture should be
cent years, as some farmers have found it
planted
for each animal unit, says Mr. Trew.
profitable to use supplemental plant food on
Each
planting
should be fenced separately in
certain fields. However, results of experimental
order
to
facilitate
rotation grazing. Maximum
tests by the Texas Agricultural Experiment
forage
is
obtained
when livestock can be con­
Substation at Lubbock suggest that the use
fined
to
a
relatively
small area so that they
of fertilizer may not be profitable unless
will
graze
off
the
forage
quickly. They then
tailored to the needs of the soil.
can be moved to a fresh pasture, and the
In tests during 1952, applications of nitro­ grazed area will recover and be ready for pas­
gen, phosphate, potash, and various combina­ turing again a few weeks later.
tions of these three plant foods were made on
Fertilizer, especially nitrogen, usually will
land planted to cotton and grain sorghums.
increase
forage production from Sudan grass.
The crops were grown under irrigation, fol­
Local
county
agricultural agents should be
lowing recommended practices with respect
consulted
as
to
the proper kinds and rates
to watering. No significant increase in yields
to
use.
was evident as a result of any of the fertilizer
applications.
Publications
Undoubtedly, many of the older fields in Texas Agricultural Experiment Station, Col­
the High Plains area are becoming deficient in lege Station:
certain plant foods and would benefit from the
application of fertilizer. However, soil special­ Live and Dead Germ Sorghum Grain in
Steer Fattening Rations, Progress Re­
ists recommend that tests be made in order
port 1629, by E. M. Neal and others.
to determine plant food deficiencies before
money is spent on fertilizer.
Report of American Foulbrood Incidence
in Texas During 1952-53, Progress Re­
Soil samples will be tested by the Texas
port 1630, by C. J. Burgin and others.
Agricultural Experiment Station at College
Cotton Variety Test at Batesville, 1953,
Station, Texas, and instructions for taking
Progress Report 1632, by Carl S. Hovesamples can be obtained from county agricul­
land.
tural agents.
Summary of the 1953 Texas Corn Perform­
ance Tests, Progress Report 1633.
Stagger Sudan Grass Plantings
Cost of Shifting from Cash Crops to Dairy­
ing on Central Texas Farms, Progress Re­
Planting Sudan grass at 3 to 4-week inter­
port 1640, by A. C. Magee.
vals, beginning as soon as the danger of frost
is past, will provide grazing throughout most
Sprinkler Irrigation of Cotton at College
of the summer, says E. M. Trew, Extension
Station, 1953, Progress Report 1641, by
pasture specialist of Texas A. & M. College.
Roy C. Garrett and Simon T. Russell.
Copies of these bulletins may be obtained
Mr. Trew points out that Sudan grass is
by
request to the publishers.
adapted to virtually all areas of Texas, is
drought-resistant, and provides more grazing
than most other summer pastures. Small
The Agricultural News Letter is prepared in
the Research Department under the direction
patches of Sudan grass can be used as emer­
of C arl H. M oore, Agricultural Economist.
gency pastures to give permanent grasses a