PRODUCTION OB 1 BABY BEEF. 145 



market at one year of age. Their rations should be of as 

 concentrated a nature as they can handle profitably. 



The other method is that of keeping the calves in a 

 growing and gaining condition by utilizing the cheaper and 

 rougher feeds of the farm and finishing them on concentrated 

 feeds, fed in connection with grass or other nutritious rough- 

 age, at an age of twenty or twenty-two months. Silage can 

 be utilized very profitably in this system. Range calves can 

 be fed successfully in this manner. That is, one can buy the 

 calves on the range at weaning time and have them shipped 

 immediately to his feeding farm. Such calves by getting a 

 liberal ration will retain their calf fat and keep in a sappy, 

 thrifty condition during the first winter. The succeeding 

 summer they can be turned out on good pasture and finished 

 during the fall or for the Christmas market. While one 

 might formulate a balanced ration, however, it should be 

 borne in mind that no single ration, fed for an indefinite 

 length of time, will give the best results. The most expe- 

 rienced feeders have found that animals relish an occasional 

 change. This is especially true of young animals; however, 

 such changes should be made very carefully, because violent 

 changes are apt to derange the digestive organs. 



Heifers may be used as well as steers in production of 

 baby beef, providing they are put on market at an early 

 date. While the production of this kind of beef is not 

 adapted to feeders who have abundance of cheap pasture in 

 summer and plenty of roughage, such as hay and fodder, in 

 winter, however, such a system of feeding can be made 

 very profitable on high priced land if a high class of animals 

 is used and concentrated foods are available. 



