258 



A STUDY OF FARM ANIMALS 



there would be a steady increase in the requirements of food 

 from calf hood to maturity to produce a pound of gain. 

 Messrs. Skinner and Cochel made a survey of beef feeding 

 in Indiana, in which they found that, of 929 feeders, 76 per 

 cent fed two-year-olds, 16 per cent yearlings, and 7 per cent 

 calves. The average weight desired in a two-year-old was 

 1,000 pounds. "Some feeders preferred steers three years 

 old or over, the reason being that such cattle usually carry 



more flesh and make 

 more rapid gains, thus 

 requiring a shorter feed- 

 ing period. They also 

 need less grain to finish 

 them, utilize coarser 

 food, feed out more uni- 

 formly, and withstand 

 severe weather better." 

 The influence of 

 quality in beef produc- 

 tion is of great import- 

 ance. Animals that show 

 coarse joints, heavy bone 

 and hide, and marked 



Figure 103. A crossbred Hereford-Aberdeen- 

 Angus steer, showing superior quality. 

 Photograph by the author. 



paunchiness, lack in 



quality and may be expected to dress out a comparatively 

 large amount of offal, and have a carcass of inferior quality. 

 When the more valuable cuts are thin and the fat is un- 

 evenly distributed in patchy form, then the carcass brings 

 much less money than the one with thick and well- 

 marbled cuts, with the external fat smoothly distributed. 

 On all discriminating beef markets, this matter of quality 

 plays an important part in values. 



The influence of shelter in beef production has attracted 

 attention among feeders for many years. Some breeds are 

 better suited to exposure than others. Certainly the West 



