CHAPTER III. 



BEEF CATTLE 



In recent years an unusual interest has developed 

 in the beef industry, partly on account of the great 

 advance which has been made in the scientific 

 feeding of cattle so as to obtain a better market 

 finish and a better quality of beef, and partly on 

 account of the changed market requirements and 

 the breeding which has been done to bring about an 

 earlier maturity of beef cattle. These improve- 

 ments in the methods of beef production have been 

 made necessary on account of the higher prices of 

 land, of labor, and of feeding stuffs. In fact, at 

 present the feeding of beef cattle for market has 

 become a special line of work which requires a high 

 grade of skill and thorough understanding of the 

 feeding values of different materials used in the 

 production of beef, as well as an appreciation of the 

 requirements of animal nutrition, and shrewd 

 business ability. Without these prerequisites, the 

 feeder is doomed to receive very small returns for 

 his labor or simply starts on the road to bankruptcy. 

 The market requirements for beef at present are 

 much higher than in former years. It is necessary 

 therefore, in order to receive prices which remuner- 

 ate the feeder for his time and feeds, to produce 

 in his feeding a herd of cattle as nearly uniform 

 as possible in appearance and quality and with 

 a high market finish and symmetrical develop- 

 ment, particularly in those parts which yield high- 



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