FOODS ANIMAL PRODUCTION. 321 



Steer and heifer beef, -T. Wilsox and (\ V. Curtis {Iowa Sta. 

 Bul.:31^pp. 013-V6S). 



Synopsis. — A comparison of feediug steers and spayed and iinspayed heifers for Ijeef, 

 nsing 5 animals of each kind. Seven of the heifers calved dnring the trial, 

 ■which interfered with the comparison. The steers made the larger gain, and 

 bronght 1 ct. i)er pound live weight more than the heifers. The heifers 

 gave a larger percentage of ])rime cuts (rihs and loins) than the steers, so that 

 on the hasis of the meat and by-]irodncts obtained, and the piice paid for the 

 steers, the heifers were worth from 0.57 to 0.62 ct. per ponnd more than was paid 

 for them. Fifteen shotes kept with the steers and heifers added materially to 

 the profit from the feeding. 



To compare steers and lieiters for beef production, 5 steers and 10 

 heifers, all yearlin*^' f^rade Shorthorns and as nearly alike in breeding 

 and development as possible, were purchased in the fall of 1892. Five 

 of the heifers were spayed and ."> left unspayed. The experiment com- 

 menced January 4, 1893, and lasted until December 1. At the begin- 

 ning the steers weighed 4,093 lbs., the spayed heifers 3,994 lbs., and the 

 unspayed heifers 3,592 lbs. All 3 lots were fed and treated in the same 

 manner. During the winter and spring they were fed hay, corn stover, 

 beets, ear corn, corn-and-cob meal, and linseed meal ; during the sum- 

 mer they received soiling cro^^s and the same grain ; and in the fall 

 clover hay, corn fodder, and beets were fed with bran, corn-and-cob 

 meal, and linseed meal. The nutritive ratio of the rations varied from 

 1 : 9.1 to 1 : 11.4. ''The heifers were all thought to be clear of calf when 

 bought," but 4 of the unspayed and 3 of the spayed heifers calved 

 during the spring and summer. This of course placed the heifers at a 

 disadvantage as far as gain was concerned; They were dried up as 

 soon as possible, and soon made satisfactory gains. A case of lumpy 

 jaw developed in 1 of the steers, but was successfully treated. 



At the conclusion of the experiment the animals were shipped to 

 Chicago and slaughtered by Swift & Co. Full data are tabulated 

 as to the food eaten, gains in weight, shrinkage, and results at slaugh- 

 tering, including the -weight of parts and of diiferent cuts of meat. 



•'The .5 steers made an average gain of 806 lbs. each, equal to 2.14 lbs. per day; 1 

 open heifer, clear of calf, gained 775 lbs., eijual to 2.35 lbs. per day ; 4 open heifers 

 that had calves made an average gain of 628 lbs. each, equal to 1.90 lbs. per day ; 2 

 spayed heifers, clear of calf, ma<le an average gain of 736 lbs. each, equal to 2.2311)8. 

 per day; 3 spayed heifers that had calves averaged 645 lbs. each, equal to 1.95 lbs. 

 per day." 



The steers were sold at 5.75 cts. and the heifers at 4.75 cts. per pound, 

 live weight. Allowing 3.5 cts. per pound for the steers and 2 cts. for 

 the heifers at the beginning of the trial, there was a profit of 864.39 on 

 the steers, $0,51 on the unspayed heifers, and $13.70 on the spayed 

 heifers. "The heifers killed nearly as well as the steers," the average 

 proportion of beef in the carcass being 03.2 per cent for the steers, 

 62.4 for the unspayed heifers, and 62.8 for the spayed heifers. 



"From the weight of different parts of the carcass it is apparent that the heifera 

 give a higher percentage of prime cuts (ribs and loins) and a corre.spondiugly lower 



