No. 4.] BEEF PRODUCTION IN NEW ENGLAND. 75 



protein enough, especially those who buy foods with refer- 

 ence to their fertilizing value to the farm. Rations whose 

 coarse foods are made up of straws, timothy and silage, in 

 which the ears are not nearly matured, must have protein 

 grains accompanying them nearly to the full extent grain is 

 fed unless fed in laroer amounts than advised. But where 

 the ration contains clover, oats and peas and other protein 

 foods the ration can contain corn meal, the one carbonaceous 

 grain food, in part. One observing these general distinc- 

 tions will not err widely in his food ration so far as nutritive 

 ratio is concerned. 



The calf starts on skim-milk and protein foods, like lin- 

 seed, oatmeal, middlings and gluten meals. The rise in grain 

 from the first half pound is gradual, until at a few months 

 old 3 to 4 pounds are given. The rise may follow gain of 

 steer, and may, after 400 or 500 pounds are reached, fall 

 below 1 per cent of live weight, dropping, as weight goes 

 up, to two-thirds of 1 per cent if the aim is 1,300 to 1,500 

 pounds. It is better to have types that will sell under this 

 extreme. 



The protein foods increase the ratio of lean meat, but if 

 fed alone will not give the desirable color of carcass that 

 corn meal will. At the start the foods mav be wholly the 

 protein meals named, the kinds being determined by the 

 markets, gradually being supplemented by corn meal. At 

 the close of feeding corn meal may make, to advantage half 

 to two-thirds of the ration. 



The feeds of all kinds must be palatable or fed with great 

 skill. Palatableness is not uecessarilj^ nutritive in effect, 

 but induces free consumption, the taking in of a goodly 

 proportion of excess food. Foods vary in palatableness, 

 and some unpalatable ones nmst at times be given. These 

 may be fed at the time of da}' when appetite is best, and for 

 the coarse foods in small amount, kept replenished and in 

 fresh form so long as they are accepted. In a large ration 

 its most palatable portions will be selected, and the balance 

 breathed on and drooled over and finally rejected. 



