TYPES AND MARKET CLASSES OF LIVE STOCK 55 



The following wholesale prices* indicate the comparative 

 values of those of the above classes which are suitable for block 

 beef: 



Steer carcasses 350 to 700 Ibs 20% to 29% cents per Ib. 



Heifer carcasses 400 to 600 Ibs 22% to 28% cents per Ib. 



Cow carcasses 250 to 500 Ibs 18% to 22% cents per Ib. 



Bull carcasses 400 to 600 Ibs. and up .17% to 17% cents per Ib. 



Veal carcasses 50 to 275 Ibs., hides on 17% to 28% cents per Ib. 



Conclusions. The study of the beef carcass therefore 

 teaches: 



1. That well-bred cattle yield the best carcasses and 

 bring the highest price. 



2. The market wants young, highly finished cattle. 



3. Steers yield the most desirable carcasses. 



4. The best results come from a method of management 

 which offers no chance for a setback during growth and fat- 

 tening. 



5. The breeder and feeder of beef cattle should secure as 

 high development of loin, back, and hindquarter as possible. 



6. To bring a good price, cattle must dress high. 



7. To dress high, cattle must be free from paunchiness 

 and must be fat. 



8. Broadly speaking, heredity regulates the lean meat, 

 and man regulates the fat. 



9. The feeding of mature cattle is almost entirely a fat- 

 tening process. 



10. Fatness is desirable because it adds weight, makes 

 perfect ripening possible, gives tenderness and juiciness to the 

 meat, and increases the dressing percentage. 



11. Cattle may be made too fat. 



12. Carcasses vary widely in weight, shape, thickness 

 of fleshing, thickness of external fat, marbling, color of lean, 

 color of fat, grain of meat, and size and hardness of bones. 



13. Ancestry, age, sex, feed, and care determine what 

 sort of a carcass an animal will yield. 



14. Half of the carcass meets with strong demand and 

 sells high, while the remainder sells low. 



15. There is demand for carcasses of all weights, but 

 the strongest demand is for handy-weight carcasses from cattle 

 weighing 1,200 to 1,400 pounds. 



Wholesale price list of a leading Chicago packer, March, 1919. 



