472 IOWA DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE 



manner of feeding we have not found it difficult to make 350 to 400- 

 pound calves 700 to 800 pounds by July, and by September the steers 

 go better than 900 pounds. In six or seven months we make them 

 double their weight and make as much gain per head as some feeders 

 get on heavy cattle in that time. 



As long as the Texas calf can be bought at a price that is less than it 

 would cost to produce that same calf on our good Iowa land, I believe 

 that it will pay to go to Texas after him. If he costs much above that 

 price we have the same element of speculation that we have now in 

 feeding the big cattle and in this case each man must use his own judg- 

 ment. I believe that the time is rapidly approaching when we will raise 

 more good beef calves in the corn belt. I realize that everyone cannot 

 feed calves, nor should they, and I may well add nor will they. I do not 

 know of any country where a calf can be produced cheaper than in 

 Texas, and I do not know of any country where that calf can be developed 

 better than in the corn belt. 



Mr. Gunn : How mucli cottonseed would yoii have as a maximum 

 while they are on silage ? 



Mr. Brockway: I was figuring on the basis of three pounds 

 cottonseed meal to one thousand pounds live weight, and I have 

 always found that sufficient. I have fed more than that, but never 

 saw that they made any better gain. About a pound to a pound 

 and a quarter to a calf. 



Mr. Hughes : Do you buy these cattle l)y the pound or the 

 head ? 



Mr. Brockwa.y : Alwa.ys by the head ; they won 't have a set of 

 scales at the stock yards. It is a well known fact that cattle develop 

 poorly in the Panhandle. They have to go a long distance to water. 

 They will not weigh as much as they look to, and the stockmen have 

 learned that it is more pi'ofitable not to have any scales. Of course, 

 the calf is a good proposition. You take it directly from the cow 

 and put it on coarse feed and allow it to develop Avithout having 

 to develop its muscular system in order to carry it to where the 

 feed is, and it makes an entirely different animal. 



Mr. Hughes: Do you find that the change of climate affects 

 liitn ? 



Mr. Hi-ockway: The develoi)me)it of the animal will be diU'erent. 

 T will venture to say that he will be a bigger steer in the corn belt 

 than he would be in the Panhandle. 



Mr. Eisele: A))0ut what do they cost down there? 



Mr. Brockway : The calves this year cost all the way from $25 

 to $30. 



Mr. Eisele: They weigh around 350 pounds? 



