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-
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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