CHAPTER XXVI 



GENERAL PROBLEMS IN BEEF PRODUCTION 



The years of 1920 and 1921 were one of the most critical periods in 

 the history of beef production in this country. To meet the war-time 

 urge for more beef for export, the number of beef cattle was increased ; 

 then came the business depression thruout the world. Consequently, the 

 exports of beef were seriously reduced and the domestic demand likewise 

 diminished. As a result of these conditions, which were the aftermath of 

 the World War, the prices for beef cattle fell to levels which have brought 

 heavy losses to beef producers thruout the country. 



With a return of conditions to normal, without question reasonable 

 profits will again be realized in beef production. As financial conditions 

 in foreign countries improve, the demand for beef for export will in- 

 crease, and as the business depression in the United States is overcome, 

 the domestic consuming capacity of our own population for beef and 

 other meats will become greater. 



Fortunately for the American public, which would be exceedingly 

 loath to give up beef as a common article of diet, our experiment stations 

 have pointed out the manner in which the cost of beef production may 

 be lowered to where it yields a reasonable profit to the farmer without 

 the finished product being unduly costly to the consumer. The trials 

 reviewed in these chapters show how the breeding herd may be main- 

 tained cheaply, utilizing the roughage which would otherwise be wasted 

 on the farm, and the steer finished for market on a much smaller 

 allowance of concentrates than was formerly believed to be necessary. 



Beef production has naturally become separated to a considerable 

 extent into two distinct phases. In sections where the land is unsuited for 

 tillage, either by reason of its rough nature or deficient rainfall, breed- 

 ing herds are maintained and the cattle raised to be sold as feeder steers. 

 On the other hand, in the corn belt, where land is high in price, the 

 majority of the steers which are fattened for market are not raised by 

 the men who finish them, but are shipped in from the range districts. 



A few years ago the steer feeding business had largely passed into the 

 hands of professional feeders who fattened several carloads each year. 

 In many instances they made little use of the manure produced, and 

 purchased much of their feed. On such a basis the enterprise was highly 

 speculative. Now, however, the practice has become common for farmers 

 in the corn-belt and some other sections to fatten a carload or two of 

 steers each year, primarily to provide a farm market for their grain and 



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