120 



THE AMERICAN FARMER. 



All dairymen know that the quality of the milk is dependent in a great measure upon 

 the food provided for the cows, that while some breeds may be pre-eminently dairy breeds, and 

 produce milk of a much richer quality, or more in quantity than some others, yet at the 

 same time the value of any cow for milk production is largely dependent upon the quality 

 and quantity of food given. If milk is dependent upon the food for its quality and flavor, 

 the flesh of the animal must depend upon it fully as much, if not to a greater extent. 



If we wish to improve the quality and flavor of the flesh, it can only be accomplished by 

 improving the food and conditions. While much may depend upon the breed, blood does 

 not comprise everything, and the quality of the beef will be found to vary according to the 

 quality and amount of food given. Therefore the feeder s art is of quite as much importance 

 as the breeder s skill, and the two must be combined to produce most economically the best 

 beef. 



Nothing is more certain than that the building materials for bone, muscle, and fat, are 

 supplied by the food, for they cannot be created by the animal machine. The animal is simply 

 the mill, and grinds the grist that is given it. Now, if we take Nature for our teacher, and 

 give a proper combination of food, commencing with the young calf and feeding continuously 

 and well (not over-feeding), on a variety of food until the animal is ready for the butcher s 

 block, nicely marbled, first quality of beef, will be the result. Not the best Short-Horn or 

 Hereford in the world, if left to shift for itself until three years old, and then forced into fat. 

 ness, will or can produce good beef. It is not breed alone, but breed and feed combined that will 

 result in the first quality of beef production. 



Average Age, Weight, and Gain of Beef Cattle Per Day. The following 

 facts, which were recently obtained from careful experiments by reliable parties in one of the 

 Western States, in feeding cattle of different ages, giving the exact age, weight, and gain of 

 each, will be useful in showing to what an extent the profit of beef production lies in full 

 feeding and early maturity. By consulting the table in which the animals are grouped as 

 near as may be according to age, and observing the average age, weight, and gain per day, 

 the law of growth will be at once apparent. The table is deficient in respect to not showing 

 the amount of food consumed by each animal per day, yet as it stands, is of value in statement 

 as far as it goes. 



5 Steers Gain 



Age. Weight. per day. 



No. 8 585 days. 1240 Ibs. 2.11 Ibs. 



No. 16 612 &quot; 1397&quot; 2.28&quot; 



No.17 500 &quot; 1114&quot; 2.23&quot; 



No. 26 605 &quot; 1196&quot; 1.97&quot; 



No.27 544 &quot; 1300&quot; 1.38&quot; 



Average 569 &quot; 1249&quot; 2.19&quot; 



5 Steers 



No. 5 845 &quot; 1636&quot; 1.93&quot; 



No. 6 814 &quot; 1449&quot; 1.78&quot; 



No. 7 710 &quot; 1316&quot; 1.87&quot; 



No.15 939 &quot; 1474&quot; 1.57&quot; 



No. 24 982 &quot; 1532&quot; 1.64&quot; 



Average 848 &quot; 1481 &quot; 1^76 &quot; 



6 Steers 



No. 25 1059 &quot; 1534&quot; 1.44&quot; 



No. 23 1284 &quot; 1649&quot; 1.28&quot; 



No. 22 1294 &quot; 1986&quot; 1.53&quot; 



No.13 1359 &quot; 1968&quot; 1.41&quot; 



No. 4 1311 &quot; 2019&quot; 1.53&quot; 



No. 3 1335 &quot; 2069&quot; 1.54&quot; 



Average 1240 &quot; 1869&quot; 1.45&quot; 



4 Steers Gain 



Age. Weir/fit. per day. 



No. 1 1578days. 2240 Ibs. 1.43 Ibs. 



No. 2 1593 &quot; 21G6 &quot; 1.36&quot; 



No. 14 1420 &quot; 1979&quot; 1.39&quot; 



No.21 1573 &quot; 2118&quot; 1.34&quot; 



Average, 1541 &quot; 2125 &quot; 1.37&quot; 



4 Steers- 

 No. 11 1677 &quot; 1930&quot; 1.15&quot; 



No. 12 1689 &quot; 1974&quot; 1.17&quot; 



No.20 1804 &quot; 2134&quot; 1.18&quot; 



No. 30 1643 &quot; 2830&quot; 1.71&quot; 



Average 1703 &quot; 2216&quot; 1.30&quot; 



3 Cows and 2 Steers 



No. 9 2035 &quot; 1769&quot; 0.86&quot; 



No. 18 2049 &quot; 1730&quot; 0.85&quot; 



No. 38 2399 &quot; 2840&quot; 1.18&quot; 



No. 29 2404 &quot; 2836&quot; 1.17&quot; 



No. 10 2241 &quot; 1669&quot; 0.74&quot; 



Average 2225 &quot; 2168 &quot; 0.96 &quot; 



It will be observed that the average gain per day decreases as the animals grow older 

 and heavier. The fifth group in the table has the average gain raised by the steer No. 30, 



