534 FEEDS AND FEEDING 



corn at usual corn-belt prices, the liberal feeding of grain from the start 

 gave greater net returns. 



819. Cost of producing baby beef. Valuable information on the cost 

 of producing baby beef under corn-belt conditions was secured by Pew 

 and Eward of the Iowa Station 19 during 3 years thru cooperation with 

 Cassady and Son of the "Walnut Ridge Stock Farm in Iowa. On this 

 farm a herd of 75 to 90 head of high-grade Hereford cows was used for 

 the production of calves to be fattened for baby beef. In the fall and 

 winter the cows were kept in vigorous condition on the cheap feeds of an 

 ordinary corn-belt farm, such as meadow-aftermath, stalk fields, alfalfa 

 or mixed hay, and corn silage, no grain being fed in addition. In sum- 

 mer the cows and calves were grazed on bluegrass pasture without 

 additional feed, except that 20 Ibs. of silage per head daily was fed one 

 summer when the pasture had been parched by drought. No grain was 

 fed the calves until July or August, when they were started on a mixture 

 of equal parts shelled corn and whole oats. After they were accustomed 

 to grain they were fed according to appetite, and consumed about 3.25 

 Ibs. a head daily up to weaning time. 



On this farm the calf crop ranged from 84 to 90 per ct. and the average 

 weight of the calves at weaning time was 413 Ibs. The average cost per 

 calf at weaning age under pre-war conditions was $30.40, including the 

 grain eaten by the calves and all the costs of keeping the cows, such as 

 feed, labor, bull service, veterinary charges, mortality risk, taxes, 

 interest, and depreciation. It was found that each year the cost of 

 raising the calves was less than calves of similar quality could have 

 been bought for on the market, the saving averaging $5.08 a head for 

 the 3 years. The cost of raising calves suitable for baby beef in the 

 corn-belt under present conditions would not differ widely from the 

 cost in this investigation. The cost of fattening baby beeves after 

 weaning may be estimated from the data in a previous chapter by com- 

 puting the probable cost of the gains at current prices for feed and 

 estimating the other expenses, such as labor, interest, building charges, 

 etc. (712) 



820. Fattening yearlings. Less extreme than the feeding of calves 

 for baby beef is finishing steers as yearlings ; i.e., before they are 2 years 

 old. Spring calves may be carried thru the first winter on roughage 

 with but a small allowance of concentrates. However, the ration must be 

 such as to keep them growing steadily. The second summer good pasture 

 alone will be sufficient to put them into condition for the feed lot in 

 the fall. 



Calves to be fattened as yearlings should be taught to eat grain before 

 being weaned so that there may be no loss of condition at this time. 

 Yearlings can hardly be finished in a 6-months winter feeding period, 

 but require fattening for 8 to 10 months, even if of good beef type. 

 Skinner and Cochel conclude from 3 years' trials at the Indiana Station 20 



"Iowa Bui. 181. ^Ind. Bui. 142. 



