90 TYPES AND MARKET CLASSES OF LIVE STOCK 



be combined, and the cattle sent to market under 24 months of 

 age; in other words, beef production must be placed very largely 

 on a baby beef basis. 



Clay, Robinson & Co., of Chicago, in a communication to 

 the writer, had the following to say concerning baby beef pro- 

 duction: "There has been marked increase in the production 

 of this class of cattle for the reason that the public demands 

 them. For years the tendency has been toward the maturing 

 of cattle at a younger and younger age. It was not so many 

 years ago when an animal was not considered ready for the mar- 

 ket under four years old, but evolution in beef production started, 

 and the most desirable beeves in the market today are prime, 

 fat yearlings." 



The above quotation is good evidence of the buyer's atti- 

 tude toward baby beef. As showing the possibilities for profit 

 to the producer of such cattle, the Kansas Station fed 130 grade 

 Shorthorn, Hereford, and Angus calves that had just been 

 weaned, and during seven months' feeding secured an average 

 monthly gain of 56 pounds per head. The average weight at 

 the beginning was 408 pounds; when sent to market seven months 

 later, the average weight was 800 pounds, and the age was a 

 little over one year. All except 32 head were heifers. The 

 remarkable feature of this demonstration was the small amount 

 of feed consumed. It required only 503 pounds of grain and 

 509 pounds of hay to make 100 pounds gain in weight. The 

 best record was made by 10 skim-milk calves that were fed alfalfa 

 hay and corn. They consumed only 439 pounds of grain and 

 436 pounds of hay for every 100 pounds of gain. When older 

 cattle are fed, it usually requires about twice these amounts of 

 grain and roughage to secure 100 pounds of gain. 



E. M. Cassady & Sons, of Whiting, Iowa, made a test of 

 the cost and rate of gains made by Hereford steers started on 

 feed as calves and yearlings. These steers were of the same 

 breeding, having been bred on the Cassady farm from the same 

 sire and dams. The calves weighed 475 pounds when put on 

 feed, and were charged at $6.00 per cwt.; the yearlings weighed 

 775 pounds, and were charged at $5.70 per . cwt. Although 

 the calves were fed for a longer period than the yearlings, th3 

 average cost of 100 pounds of gain was $10.80 for the calves, 

 as compared with $15.65 for the yearlings. The calves made a 

 profit of $20.00 per head, and the yearlings made a profit of 

 $14.00. 



