Factors in Steer Feeding. 379 



marbling of the fat and lean was not equal to that of the others 

 (beef breeds)." Georgeson, reviewing his results, writes: . . . 

 ''The Short-horns gave the best returns, not simply because the 

 gross weight of their carcasses was greater than that of the scrubs, 

 but also because their meat was esteemed better by experts in the 

 packing-house who were asked to judge of the quality and assign 

 prices." Of the Ontario native, Shaw wrote: ''There was a 

 lack of thickness of carcass throughout, the deficiency in depth of 

 rib and loin being very noticeable, and the absence of what may 

 be termed fleshiness was conspicuous." 



577. in conclusion. — In our study of the value of specific breed- 

 ing for beef production we have found, as shown in the preceding 

 articles, that the steer bred for beef does not consume less feed 

 than do otliers of the same weight, nor does he necessarily reach a 

 given weight in less days, though generally such is the case. Nor 

 do our figures show that 100 pounds of gain, live weight, can be 

 made by the beef steer with less feed than other cattle require. 



The first specific difference is found in the marked superiority 

 of true beef cattle in yielding a larger i)ercentage of dressed weight 

 to live carcass. A second difference of deep significance is in 

 the disposition of the fat, the beef steer placing this surplus 

 material where it serves its highest purpose as human food — 

 among the muscular fibers of the tissues, — while the dairy -bred 

 animal deposits it in quantity about the viscera. 



While if we divide the dressed carcass into the several parts 

 required by the trade we cannot show that the proportion of these 

 varies in cattle of different breeds, yet the thickness of the flesh 

 of these parts is certainly in favor of the beef breeds. 



These dUfferences, with others which cannot be distinctly speci- 

 fied coming under the term "quality," combine to make the beef 

 steer what his name indicates — an animal specifically designed 

 for the most favorable production of the best meat. 



m. Other Findings. 



578. Dressed weight of cattle. — The percentage of dressed 

 c<ircass to live weight of cattle varies according to several condi- 

 tions, the leading of which are: 1, the age of the animal; 2, the 



