249 



method, known as the "Chicago" or "Straight cut," the latter 

 was adhered to ; also because otherwise no comparisons would 

 have been possible between the cuts and percentages of this con- 

 test with those of the previous ones. 



The three carcasses were marked respectively No. 0, No. 7, 

 and No. 4, the first two being the steers and the last the* baby 

 beef.. 



Table I. 



Steer No. Steer No. 7. Steer No. 4. 



Owner: Grove Ranch Halcakala Ranch H. AV. Rice 



Breed: Grade Angus Grade Hereford Grade Hereford 



Age: 2 yrs. 10 mos. 2 yrs. 10 mos, 1 yr. 3 mos. 



Feeding: Stall fed Stall fed Stall fed 



Live weight: 1185 lbs. 12221/2 lbs. 980 lbs. 



Dressed weight: 7661/2 lbs. 788 lbs. 5631/2 lbs. 



Dressing percentage: 64.68% 64.46% 57.5% 



Chilled weight: 755 lbs. 7721/2 lbs. 5531/2 lbs. 



Loss in chilling: lli/o lbs. 1.7% 16 lbs., 2.0% 10 lbs., 1.8% 



Green hide: 79 lbs. 76 lbs. 88 lbs. 



The above figures need little elucidation. " The Angus steer 

 (No. 0) and the Hereford steer (No. 7) were of the same age, 

 the difference in live weight being proportional to the difference 

 in size of the two breeds. In so far as the baby beef is concerned, 

 it is hard to draw any comparisons. 



The dressing percentage of the two steers is good, well above 

 64% and slightly in favor of the Angus (No. 0). The dressing 

 percentage of the yearling 57.5%, while good, would indicate 

 that feeding should have been continued for three or four months 

 longer. As an experienced Illinois feeder and exhibitor of mar- 

 ket-topping baby beeves says (see Breeders' Gazette^ Oct. 2nd, 

 1919, p. 657) — "I have never been able to make a prime yearhng 

 within twelve months after weaning time;" whereas, this year- 

 ling, according to the exhibitor, was fed for ten months only. 

 During this period it gained nearly two pounds per day. 



The ration consisted of a mixture of corn, barley and bran 

 averaging 8 pounds per day, with 10 pounds of alfalfa hay. The 

 cost was about $96.00 for grain and $30.00 for hay, making the 

 gain cost an average of 23c per pound. These figures are men- 

 tioned only to illustrate that, with the present prices of feed, 

 it cannot possibly pay to produce high class stall fed beef if the 

 feeder is to receive only 16 to 18 cents per pound dressed weight, 

 and the consumer be allow^ed to buy the prime cuts for 25 to 35 

 cents per pound. Take as a comparison the carload of baby 

 beef steers (Angus yearlings) sold on the Chicago market, as 

 reported and illustrated in the Breeders' Gazette of October 

 2nd, for $18.00 per cwt., on th^' hoof. These yearlings averaged 

 only 851 pounds — as compared to the 980 pounds of this Hereford 

 yearling, still they brought the feeder (E. P. Hall, the same 

 quoted above) $153.18 per head, while our yearling would have 



