TYPES AND MARKET CLASSES OF LIVE STOCK - 93 



steers and heifers was only about 40 cents per cwt., instead of 

 $1.00 a cwt. made by the buyers. Expert opinions secured 

 from Chicago packers as to why the heifer carcasses sold at less 

 price per pound than the steer carcasses were to the effect that 

 heifers make more fat where the steers make lean meat. There 

 is said to be more lean meat in a steer loin and a larger tender- 

 loin. Otherwise, the carcasses were said to be of equal value. 



It is a well-known fact that Englishmen make no discrim- 

 inations against heifer beef, indeed they pay more for it than 

 for steer beef. Wilson and Curtiss corresponded with several 

 Englishmen concerning this matter, and the substance of the 

 replies was that heifers yield meat of finer grain and better 

 quality, are good cutters, and yield little rough meat. Rib 

 and loin cuts from spayed heifer carcasses were valued two 

 cents per pound higher than the same cuts from steer carcasses 

 equally well fattened. Plate cuts from heifers were valued 

 one cent higher. Heifer beef was said to be better marbled, 

 more pleasing in appearance, more juicy, and more palatable. 



In 1894, the Iowa Station* conducted a second experiment 

 with steers and spayed and open heifers. The same plan was 

 followed as in the first experiment and the results were prac- 

 tically the same, thus verifying the results of the first test. 



Evidently English and American standards for meats vary 

 somewhat, and public preference has been cultivated along 

 different lines in the two countries. So far as our American 

 markets are concerned, it seems that the difference in prices 

 paid for fat steers and heifers may not be justified by any real 

 difference in the cuts of meat, yet the condition must be accepted 

 nevertheless, and producers must shape their operations accord- 

 ingly. There is, however, one logical objection to heifers; it 

 is that they are frequently pregnant, which lowers the dressing 

 percentage and may affect the value of the carcass. At the 

 present time the discrimination against heifers amounts to 

 50 or 75 cents per cwt. for open heifers, and about 25 cents per 

 cwt. in the case of spayed heifers. There is not as much dis- 

 crimination in price against fat young heifers as against fat 

 heifers of older age. 



The question of spaying. As the experiment just dis- 

 cussed dealt with spayed and open heifers, a word may be said 

 here about the comparative merits of the two from the stand- 



* la. Bui. 33. 



