CHAPTER XXVIII 



RAISING BEEF CATTLE 



In establishing a beef breeding herd, one should start with as good 

 foundation cows as possible, in order to secure offspring that will make 

 economical gains, mature early, and yield carcasses with a large per- 

 centage of the high-priced cuts of meat. (718-25) If possible, well-bred 

 grade cows of one of the beef breeds should be selected. Where this 

 can not be done, a start may be made with selected commoner cows, but 

 the progress will then be less rapid. The cows should come as closely as 

 possible to the recognized beef type and conformation and should be 

 low-set, deep-bodied, broad, and compact, with vigorous constitutions 

 and roomy digestive tracts. A pure-bred bull of good quality should 

 always be used, for only then is it possible to build up a herd which will 

 return the most profit. 



There are three general systems of handling beef breeding herds. 

 These are: (1) the ''straight beef" method; (2) "baby beef" produc- 

 tion; and (3) the "dual-purpose" system. In the first two systems the 

 calves run with their dams until weaned, none of the cows being milked. 

 Cows producing calves intended for baby beef are, however, commonly 

 fed a little more liberally, as is pointed out later. (818-9) In the dual- 

 purpose system, which is discussed elsewhere (792), beef production is 

 combined more or less with dairying. As the straight-beef method is 

 most generally practiced in the United States, it will be considered first. 



788. Feeding beef breeding cows. Where cows are kept only for rais- 

 ing calves for beef, the cost of their maintenance for an entire year must 

 be charged against the fatted steer. In reducing the cost of beef pro- 

 duction it is therefore essential that the breeding herd be maintained as 

 cheaply as possible, yet kept in vigorous breeding condition. Only a 

 breeder of pure bred stock who wishes to keep his herd in somewhat of 

 "show condition" as an advertisement can afford to feed expensive 

 rations to his beef cows. 



Cows kept solely for beef production are commonly grazed on pasture 

 during the growing season, the suckling calves running with their dams 

 and no additional feed being given to cows or calves. Usually the 

 pastures thus utilized will be the land least suited to tillage. Where land 

 is high-priced and there is but little waste land for grazing, the herd 

 may often be maintained most cheaply on limited pasturage supple- 

 mented by summer silage. (412) In the fall the cows can get their 

 living chiefly from feed that might be otherwise wasted, such as stubble 

 or stalk fields and the aftermath on meadows. By a little foresight, the 



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