32 GRASS BEEF 



more trouble, is less in feeding stuff per unit of live weight than 

 is the case with the six-toothers ; further, as it has been shown 

 that more of them would be available, it should be possible for 

 the feeder to buy at a slightly lower rate and yet leave at least 

 the same profit for the rearer. As regards realizing the profit, 

 the relative price paid per cwt. for large and small varies con- 

 siderably. When large prime bullocks are scarce, they make as 

 much per stone, sometimes even more, than small young prime 

 animals; but usually the reverse is the case. 



From the national point of view the estimate of the yield of 

 carcase is a fairly safe one, and other useful stuff may be 

 reckoned in the same proportion, except that the hide of the 

 large beast will no doubt be considerably more valuable. The 

 yearlings, decently brought up as suggested in a former chapter, 

 may be estimated to yield from 52 to 55 (say 53 per cent, on 

 the average), and the three-year-olds about 3 per cent. more. 

 If, as one hopes, the whole question is in the future submitted 

 to the proof of systematic research, this difference will probably 

 be found to be exaggerated. But, given this difference, the 

 result will be as follows : 



If the three-year-olds yielding 53 per cent, (this low figure is 

 deliberate) raise themselves from 9 cwt. to a weight of 11-5 cwt. 

 at 56 per cent. a total carcase receipt of 721 Ib. (less 534 lb., the 

 carcase weight of the store) we get a total yield of 561 lb. as 

 increase from three bullocks off three acres of land. With five 

 yearlings, assumed to raise themselves from 5-5 cwt. at 50 per 

 cent, carcase to 8 cwt. at 53 per cent., we find in the same way 

 a difference of 167 lb. per beast ; but five would be grazed instead 

 of three, and the amount off the same area of land would be 835^. 

 There is a further correction to be made. Dr Marshall, working 

 on the inquiry already referred to 1 , obtained results which show 

 that these small animals will probably yield a larger proportion 

 of gristle and bone. Assuming his figures to hold good, the 

 difference is, however, under 3 per cent, and the increase shown 

 above would be only reduced by 25 lb. on the whole three acres 

 leaving a surplus of 230 lb. on the fiv^ young animals. 



The system advocated here has the further advantage of 

 1 See footnote i, p. 30. 



