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About Medford mail tribune. (Medford, Or.) 1909-1989 | View Entire Issue (April 30, 1950)
Breeding, Marketing of Rabbits Becoming Major Item in Farm Economy of County Breeding and marketing of rabbits is becoming a major item in the agricultural economy of the Rogue valley. From a few commercial breeders, and a num ber of "back-yard" raisers, the breeding of rabbits for sale has grown to considerable propor tions. Much of this activity is due di rectly to the recent formation of two related groups the Southern Oregon Rabbit Breed ers association, and the Rogue River Valley Rabbit Marketing Association, Inc. Progress Told W. B. McCullough, Ashland, president of the breeders' group, last week told of some of the progress which had been made in the field. The marketing as sociation was incorporated in January for $10,000, of which about $6,000 has been sub scribed. Most of the stock is owned by 50 members of the breeders group, and many of them take payment for rabbits in corporation stock. Since January, the marketing association has been operating in a converted chicken brooder in Talent, owned by Lloyd Wells. It is equipped with a freezer box and all necessary sanitary facilities to comply with state laws on slaughtering. About 85 members market their rabbits through the group, and stock comes from Rogue River, Trail, Ashland, and other sur rounding sections of the county. Another chapter. of the breeders' association is located In Grants Pass. Plans are now under way for construction of a new slaughter house, to be completed by next January. Shio to San Francisco Formation of the groups re sulted directly from a new state law requiring rabbit sellers to have "Class B" license. In the early stages of formation it was thought that outside markets would be developed, and for a time shipments were made to San Francisco ranging from 1,000 pounds per week up to a carload. But increased demand and development of markets in southern Oregon and northern California, as far south as Red ding, now keeps most of the product closer to its origin. As a standarization increased and demand was stimulated, prices have gone up to where they are now about 23 cents per pound live weight. The group processes from 500 to 700 pounds a week now, and hopes to in crease to 1,500 to 2,000 pounds of meat a week. New breeders are being sought for this pur pose. Receive Profits Producers who hold bonds in the marketing association are paid interest in proportion to the group's profits. They also receive a bonus payment for weight produced. The breeders' association, in addition to giving technical in formation and breeding and raising help, is also a social group, and sponsors potluck din ners each" two months, with mo tion pictures or outside speakers appearing on the programs. The next meeting, May 8, will feature a talk by Joe Barker, a rabbit judge. Most of the rabbits purchased by the association are new Zea land whites, which have good meat characteristics and the white fur most desired by deal ers. They art slaughtered at about eight weeks, and usually weigh from four to four and a half pounds. The time taken to raise the animals has been cut down in recent years by develop ing in feeding techniques. The association has developed a spe cial feeding grain pellet, which makes the rabbit grow faster and fatter, on less feed. j Nearly All Belong Nearly 100 per cent of the county's commercial rabbit; breeders belong to the associa-1 tion, and since the group was i formed, production of rabbits in j the valley has nearly doubled. They are now being raised at a rate estimated at 60,000 or 70, 000 per vear. which may be dou bled again by fall. At the last meeting of the breeders association, discussion of future plans included a proj- rrJ-r " 1 " r ' '' ' '',"',," 'Jj'TT TKXrCTSgXtgS mrxnr'-- $m tesVAitft;-; P. Q fcr- rr-fiTTiff it ni I ' -A RABBIT BREEDERS-MARKETERS Pictured above are men active in the recently formed Rogue River Valley Rabbit Marketing association, the marketing corporation of the Southern Oregon Babbit Breeders association. From left thev are W. B. McCullough, president; L. D. Wells, manager; L. L. McCoy, butcher, and Bob Jones, distributor. In the rear of the picture is shown the tem porary quarters of the processing plant of the association, and at the right Jones' truck with which he takes rabbit meat to many sections of southern Oregon and northern California. Housewives Resisting Higher Beef Prices Chicago, Apr. 29 (U.R) Housewives across the nation were reported today to be resist ing higher and higher and high er prices tagged on beef by butchers. Livestock market analysts blamed the spiraling prices on farmers who held cattle on pas ture to force prices up. Choice cuts of beef sold at about 20 cents higher than they did a month ago. Round Steak Up ' In Chicago, porterhouse steak carried a $1.09 price tag, com pared with 89 cents last month. Round steak was up 20 cents in Chicago over the 69 cents a pound it sold for a month ago. Hamburger was 10 cents higher. Although all cities surveyed by the United Press showed an increase over last month, the jump was not so marked else- ect to put up cash prizes to be used in the purchase of stock for 4-H club members who raise rabbits. Judging will be done on two bases, the amount of pro duction of does, and the quality of meat. There are now about 150 rabbits being raised by 4-H members in the county. The program will be continued in cooperation with Rufus Cate Jr., county agent for club work. McCullough said that breeders feel their work is important to the economy of the valley for more than one reason. He point ed out that rabbits can be raised in a relatively small area, and the suggestion has been made that it could form an important source of additional income for many people. where as it was in Chicago. Porterhouse in New York sold for 93 cents, up six cents; in San Francisco it was up two cents. "We feel we'll meet some heavy customer resistance in the next week or two because we have to pass on higher prices to the consumer," a Chicago Kro ger executive said. Midwest markets just didn't have the cattle. The agriculture department said only 11,000 cat tle came to market yesterday Education on Cancer Given Boost by Funds Nearly two and a half million dollars is being spent by the American Cancer society on ed ucation this year, according to Mrs. John S. Day, Jackson coun ty chairman of the society. The group will spend $721,000 on professional education, and another $373,000 on public edu cation. In addition, Mrs. Day re ported, the various state divi sions of the society, including the one in Oregon, have allocat ed some $1,295,000 for educa tional purposes. The society's aim in the pro grams is to get patients to phy sicians early enough to permit a cure, she said, and to see that the medical profession has the information necessary to make every doctor's office a cancer de tection center. In 1949, Mrs. Dav pointed out, at least one-third of the 200,000 persons who died from cancer could have been saved if they had visited physicians sooner. Army Instructors to Tell of Service Units A visiting sixth army instruc tion headed by Lt. Col. Frederic F. Wolfer, will tell of current de velopments in field operation of service units at a meeting of the organized reserve of the army, and the national guard next Tuesday at 8 p.m. The meeting will be in the federal building on Sixth street and Riverside avenue. Unemploymenl Falls 12 Per Cent From March Level Washington, Apr. 29 (U.R) Unemployment fell more than 12 per cent this month with the spring perk up of the nation's industries and farms. The census bureau reported that the number of unemployed in April dropped to 3,515.000 as compared with March's level of 4,123,000. At the same time, the number of employed rose 1,117,000 to the highest level in five months. It was estimated that 58,668, 000 persons were employed in April as compared with 57,551, 000 in March. Above) Anticipation Secretary of Commerce Charles Sawyer said that the "welcome gains of the past two months are probably greater than were generally antici pated." "It Is noteworthy," he said, "that both employment and un employment are back to the levels existing before the mid winter curtailment in activity." Sawyer referred to the eight and one-half year peak of 4. 684.000 unemployed persons in compared with 31,500 a month i ago. I Lamb Prices Higher ' Lamb prices were up their usual four or five cents for this time of year due to the switch from fall to spring lambs. The fall lamb supply was nearly ex- J hausted while the spring ani-1 mals were not yet ready for market. Pork prices, although slightly higher, were not significant be cause the increase was "a regu lar price fluctuation." On the wholesale level, beef prices rose $2 per hundred weight during the past week. WOOD Order Your Green Wood Now for Future Delivery. 2x2, 2x4, 4x416" CENTRAL POINT FUEL CO. Undtr New Management PHONE CENTRAL POINT 171 Man. thru Fri. t l.m. to 4 p.m. 8undT. April 90. 19S0 MEDFOHP (OHESOM) MAIL THIBONE FTO February. The April unemploy ment figure was the first to drop below the 4 million mark this year. Deed line on Classified Ads: 5:30 p.m (or following day; 10 em Monday (or Monday: noon Saturday for Sunday a.m. FROM VACATION Camp White, Apr. 29 Miss Grace Stuhr, chief nurse here, is back from a vacation spent in Portland and Vancouver. Miss Stuhr combined business with Dleasure and was absent from duty just one week. The U. 3. state department was established as the depart ment of foreign affairs, In ac cordance with the act of July 27, 1789. Less than two months lat er, on Sept. 15, 1788, the name was changed to the nreient d. oartment of state. Here's The Thing For Your KKDOE ARBDENHN The Amazing New MERRY TILLER 80 Now In Use In the Rogue River Valley! STURDY-ECONOMICAL LABOR SAVING! Operates for Less Than 10c an Hour Asphalt and con x crete paving, road oiling. Commercial and Residential Struc tures. SNOOK BROS. General Contractors Phone 2-2116 end 3-2704 A iturdy, light weight motor driven cultivator that will do a job that no other similar machine will do, and with a minimum of effort. It it to light and easily handled that a woman can operate it without diffi culty and can be moved under it: own power to the job without injury to lawns or walks. It can be used in flower beds and among shrubs to thoroughly mulch the ground or to prepare new ground for flower beds or garden. It is ideal for general cultivating be tween rows and around plants and for mixing fertiliser with the soil; for potting beds or general garden work. It cultivates rows from 12 inches up and to a depth of 10 inches and op erates efficiently in all types of solid or rough terrain. Additional rotorl may be attached to increase the till ing width to 24 inches. It cultivates close up to trees, walk, shrubs, buildings, etc. It it a com plete all purpose piece of equipment for nurserymen and gardeners. Let Us Demonstrate in YOUR Garden! VALLEY EQUIPMENT CO. Pacific Highway South-Dial 2-9441 MEDFORD NEON CO. OUR NIGHT PATROL SERVICE SAVES Designer! and Manufacturers of Quality Neon Displayt 527 Putman St. Phone 2-2276 mart THE CHARACTER OF OUR PEOPLE ii tht itrongMt met of our rut ion, and miking tick net and idlentit too ry pUcti a prt tnium on the destruction of char acter. Foisting Compuliory Health Imuranca on ut, through deduc tions, aitetimtntt and taxei would mult in billiom of doll in ipent in adminiitrativt bureaus, infer ior medical service ... and IN CREASED volume of sickness. Loss of time through sickness trebltd in some countries, under such systems. America averaged about fi days, in sicknew per person per year, before the war England averaged IJ'j days, nd was on the increase. If you want ten sickness, keep Doctors free of political domina tion. Kill plans that create neu rotics, and weaken the "will t stay well and get well." Western MlfT PHAR.MACT .0 N. Central. Phone 2-2174 MF.DFORI). UI1KOON SOLVE... SPRINKLER IRRIGATION'S TOUGHEST PROBLEM WITH THE NEW ALSO TRACTOR and HAND MOVE tmiHKLltt IRRIGATION This revolutionary development in sprinkler irrigation allows one man to move Is mile of pipe at one time in a matter of min utes . . . after pipe is automati cally drained through patented valves! Ends hard labor and high costs of moving pipe by putting your system on wheels. AUTOMATIC DRAINING The STOUT WHEEL MOVE SYSTEM is drained automati cally through patented drain valves once the pressure is cut off. Lines will drain to permit moving in approximately 5 min utes. Weight of line is thus re duced to a point where it can be easily moved as a section by one man. SAVES LABOR Prior to the development of the STOUT WHEEL MOVE SPRINKLER IRRIGATION SYSTEM the hard labor and costs of moving pipe often over shadowed many of the benefits and conveniences derived from sprinkler irrigation. E$flmafe$ G'ad'y Furnished ExPert Enm Service 7 9 STOUT WHEEL MOVE IRRIGATION ! available tor any new Installations, large er imall . . . yet hai been designed to permit easy cenveriion from any present hand-move system . . . through use of the STOUT Converter Coupler. Conversion from e hand-move system to new, labor saving STOUT WHEEL MOVE SYSTEM DOES NOT require purchase of new pipe. GOOD USED PIPE Now Available For Your Sprinkler System at BARGAIN PRICES! Have YOU Seen the New FREEMAN Automatic TWINE-TIE PICK-UP BALER? ONE MAN Bales Up To SEVEN Bales Per Minute Fewer Moving Parts Simplified, Compact Design! I Ona man on tha tractor can bait hay from tht windrow up to 7 balci par minute, and 10 torn par hour, depend ing on tht typt and quantity of hay, and ground condition!. Hotting on spring tension, tht pick-up drum doti a clean job . . . tvtn on rough ground or In crossing irrigation border! or leveet. Drivan by bull gean, tht sweep fork operate 50 stroktl ptr minutt In time with plungtr, pushing hay from tht top of pick-up dirtctly into bait chamber on tvtry itrokt. At the plung tr ii on backstrokt, tht feed fork puihei hay into tht eh- ' ' ind tht plungtr compress' cutting knift slices tht hay, '' fork rt- turns to pick-up anr J. Baler is designed for , maneuvering in the field and moving on road. Over all width only 98 inchas. Baler Is compact and low, a man on tht tractor can look back over baltr to itt knottcrs and practically tht tntirt op eration of machina. Types of bait being turned out can bt quickly nottd, and whether adjustment to bait ten lion is necessary dut to changing con ditions of the hay. Demonstration TUES. MAY 2 Boe's Place near Mond Desir Central Point STARTS 4 P. M.' VALLEY EQUIPMENT CO. Pacific Highway South -Dial 2-9441 PLENTY OF PARKING SPACE AT ALL TIMES Sli BMHK Hf AIT H THE VOIUNTAP.Y AMERICAN WAt IC
