150 IOWA DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE 



farms and beef producers on small farms. But on the whole, owing to the 

 labor problem, which makes dairying on large farms difficult, the above di- 

 vision will be in general correct. In between these two extremes we will 

 find a large class of general farmers who will raise live stock primarily 

 for the purpose of converting their rough feed and unsalable feed into 

 profitable beef, mutton and milk. They will have no special purpose in 

 raising cattle other than that of making profitable returns out of that 

 which would otherwise go to waste. I do not wish to infer that these farm- 

 ers, who do not raise special purpose cattle are by any means an inferior 

 class of farmers; they are prosperous and keep their places in good condi- 

 tion; but I do say that they will have no special purpose in raising cattle 

 other than that of making profitable returns out of rough and unsalable 

 feed that would otherwise go to waste. 



It is from this general class of farmers that we will draw the great ma- 

 jority of our feeding steers. These farmers will keep cows that 

 pay their way, or at least a part of the way, at the pail. These cows can 

 scarcely be of the extreme dumpling type, but will be of large capacity, 

 broad across the hooks, and deep bodied, in order that they may make 

 use of the roughage and waste of the farms, to the best possible advan- 

 tage. 



These views may not agree with yours. If so, kindly remember that 

 I am not presenting an ideal system. I have merely stated what observa- 

 tion leads me to believe are the facts. I am greatly interested in the won- 

 derful progress dairying is making in this state, and have given a great 

 deal of time and attention to it during the past few years. I am also 

 greatly interested in the strictly beef cow, but the indications are that 

 the majority of our future feeding steers will be produced by the farmers 

 who keep from five to fifteen cows, and who will expect these cows to give 

 a good account of themselves at the pail. 



The question of fattening cattle on concentrated feed has been so ably 

 discussed at your annual meetings on so many occasions that I do not 

 care to discuss it here, l believe, nowever, tnai, we nave neglectea a mosc 

 important phase of this problem of producing beef, espeiially as regards the 

 man who raises the calves and grows them until they are ready for the 

 feed lot. And since most of us are agreed that the responsibility of pro- 

 ducing feeding steers will for the most part fall upon the average farm- 

 er, it is to him especially that I wish to speak. 



The high price of corn and other concentrates clearly indicates that the 

 successful beef producer of the future must make a larger utilization of 

 cheap feeds. The man who wins will be the one who studies how he can 

 increase the yield of his acres and also how he can utilize what the farm 

 produces in the best possible manner. Hide-bound pastures, corn stalks, 

 bleaching in the field, straw and hay piled up instead of stacked, and man- 

 ure leached and wasted, all bear silent testimony to important points 

 overlooked in producing cheap beef. 



Iowa is known far and wide as a corn-producing state, but just the same 

 we have more acres of pasture than we have of corn. Very little attention 

 has been given to the improvement of pastures, and yet the improve- 

 ment of pastures will have a greater immediate effect upon reducing the 



