460 FEEDS AND FEEDING 



The greater earning capacity of pure-bred or high grade stock over 

 scrubs is well shown in an inquiry recently conducted by the United 

 States Department of Agriculture 15 among 2,000 farmers in 36 states who 

 were the first to enroll in the national "Better Sires Better Stock" 

 campaign. These men estimated that on the average pure-bred beef cattle 

 had an earning power 36.8 per ct. greater than that of common or scrub 

 stock, based on utility alone and not considering the greater pride and 

 pleasure in caring for well-bred cattle. Those who had formerly had 

 scrub stock and had introduced pure-bred sires on their farms reported 

 an average increase of 48.0 per ct. in financial returns traceable to the 

 use of pure-bred sires. These figures show clearly that no stockman who 

 persists in keeping scrub stock can expect a profit. 



718. Rapidity of gains. Tests at various stations 16 prove that steers 

 of beef breeding and of beef conformation make noticeably more rapid 

 gains than those lacking in these points. This is clearly shown in the trial 

 by Mumford discussed later in this chapter (724), and also in experi- 

 ments by Willson at the Tennessee Station. In the latter experiments 

 steers of very good conformation gained on the average 1.76 Ibs. per head 

 daily and those classed as good feeders, 1.60 Ibs., while the steers of 

 medium or poor conformation gained only 1.37 Ibs. Dairy-bred steers, 

 especially those of the larger breeds, do not necessarily make smaller 

 gains than beef -bred steers, tho from other standpoints they are inferior 

 as beef producers. 17 This is reasonable, for in the development of both 

 the beef and the dairy breeds one of the chief objects has been the secur- 

 ing of animals with large capacity for food and vigorous assimilative 

 power. In these qualities the native, or scrub, steer is apt to be lacking. 



It is well known that there is great difference in the capacity of indi- 

 viduals of the same breed to make gains when given the same feeds and 

 fed under the same conditions. An experienced judge of cattle can 

 generally pick out the good gamers from a bunch of feeders, by selecting 

 thrifty appearing animals of good conformation. Such animals are 

 low set, deep, broad, and compact, with roomy digestive tracts and 

 vigorous constitutions. Cattle feeders well know that temperament is of 

 great importance in determining gains in the feed lot; the calm, quiet 

 animal which eats and then lies down is almost sure to outgain the rest- 

 less, active one. 



But little scientific work has yet been done to determine just what 

 points of conformation in cattle are of importance as an indication that 

 an animal will make rapid and economical gains. Severson and Gerlaugh 

 concluded from trials at the Pennsylvania Station 18 that large chest or 

 heart girth is more of an indication of good gaming capacity than cir- 



15 Burch, U. S. D. A., Bur. Anim. Indus., press announcement. 

 "111. Bui. 90; Iowa Buls. 20, 28; Kan. Bui. 51; Mich. Buls. 44, 69; Mo. Bui. 23; 

 Ont. Agr. Col. Rpt. 1892; Tenn. Bui. 104. 

 "Mich. Buls. 44, 69; Iowa Bui. 60. 

 18 Penn. Rpt. 1916-17, pp. 275-295. 



