362 IOWA DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 



increase in weight than was required the year previous. This is true for 

 animals kept in the same condition of flesh. It seems entirely reasonable in 

 view of the fact that nearly half of a full feed is required for maintaining a 

 constant weight. The larger the animal the more food is required to keep 

 up body heat, replace wornout tissues, force the blood to circulate and do 

 other necessary work. The same capital invested in young stock produces 

 more beef than in older stock. The man who produces his own feeders 

 realizes his profits sooner in baby beef than in older beef, which is a distinct 

 advantage. The existing conditions favorable to early feeding are the availa- 

 bility of low-down blocky types of cattle which respond well to early heavy 

 feeding, putting on fat and flesh rapidly without a large development of 

 bone, and in the status of the present day market which pays as much for 

 small cattle of high finish as the larger 1,400-pound cattle of former days. 



For the production of baby beef calves which have been allowed whole 

 milk fresh from the cow are most suitable because they are in better flesh at 

 weaning time. Such calves should be fed grain just as soon as they can be 

 encouraged to eat. A mixture consisting of one-half whole oats, one-quarter 

 bran and one- quarter shelled corn is very satisfactory tor young calves re- 

 ceiving milk. Whole grain is ordinarily more attractive to young calves 

 than ground grain. The whole grain is always fresh while the ground grain 

 is sometimes tainted from exposure to the air. Shelled corn is brittle and 

 easily cracked by young calves which seem fond of nibbling it. Probably na 

 grain is more relished by them, regardless of the fact that it is too starchy 

 for their good when fed alone. . Bran, rich in protein, offsets the starchy 

 corn, and, with oats, supplies sufficient bulk to satisfy the craving for some- 

 thing bulky to develop the ruminating powers. Bran is also an excellent 

 bowel regulator useful in connection with a milk diet. Oats tend to check 

 scours in all animals. No single food is more satisfactory to supplement 

 milk for growing calves than whole oats. The mixture of the three foods is 

 more satisfactory. If bran is not available one-half the same quantity of 

 oil-meal could be used instead. 



Grain feeding before weaning not only saves milk, but more than that it 

 lessens the shrinkage which is likely to follow weaning. By permitting the 

 calf to drink but once a day before weaning entirely from the cow, full feed- 

 ing on grain at the time, very little shrinkage is occasioned when the milk 

 is withdrawn entirely. The secret of feeding after weaning time is to hold 

 the milk flesh and keep the calf putting more on top. At this age it is 

 natural for a calf to develop frame. If flesh and fat are to keep pace with 

 this bone development, heavy grain feeding is the only course to pursue. 

 All the grain the calf can be made to consume without taking the edge off 

 his appetite is the safest rule to follow. This is where skill and watchful- 

 ness are rewarded. At this stage the calf will stand more corn equal parts 

 of corn, oats and bran. 



With spring calves a late summer pasture of blue grass will furnish any 

 protein lacking in the grain ration. If no blue grass pasture is available, 

 and the calves are stable-fed the roughness should consist very largely of 

 clover or alfalfa, since both of these plants are rich in protein and are rel- 

 ished by calves. In producing baby beef there should be no cessation of 

 heavy grain feeding. The first winter corn should be increased to form at 

 least half the grain ration. If oats are high in price, as they usually are in 



