CHAPTER IV 



THE VALUE OF TYPE IN BEEF MAKING 



In order to determine just what advantages are possessed by the 

 beef-type steer as compared with the dairy-tjrpe steer, some experi- 

 ments have been carried out which have resulted in interesting findings. 

 It has long been known that beef steers suit feeders and butchers better 

 than steers of dairy breeding. It has been claimed that beef steers 

 gain faster in proportion to feed consumed, that they fatten more 

 readily, dress out higher, yield a more valuable carcass, and hence 

 bring a higher price on the market. Experimental results have upheld 

 some of these views and disproved others. 



\^ In 1903, the Iowa Experiment Station ^ conducted a series of ex- 

 periments dealing with the comparative merits of the two types for 

 beef production. The object was to provide answers to the following 

 questions: 1. Which type of steer makes the greater gains from 

 pounds of feed consumed? 2. In the gains made, what differences 

 exist between the two types as to distribution of such gains over the 

 body? 3. Which type of steer yields the greater profit to the feeder? 

 4, Which type shows the greater amount of offal? 5. Which type 

 carries the higher percentage of tallow? 6. Which tjT^e carries the 

 higher percentage of valuable cuts? 7. In considering the various 

 commercial cuts from the two types, what differences are to be found 

 as regards weight, thickness, covering of fat, marbling, color, and fine- 

 ness of grain? 8. Is the low price paid for dairy-type steers due to 

 prejudice, or to an actual inferiority in the value of the carcasses? 



Four beef-type steers and four dairy-type steers were put on feed 

 January 1, 1903, and fed one year. The steers were on dry feed during 

 the entire time, so that the exact amount of feed consumed by each 

 lot might be known. Of the four beef steers, two were high-grade 

 Herefords, and two, purebred Angus. The four dairy steers consisted 

 of two Jerseys and two Holsteins. The ages at the beginning of the 

 test were approximately as follows: Average of Herefords, 16 months; 

 of Angus, 18 months; of Holsteins, 24 months; and of Jerseys, 18 

 months. The feeds given were mixed hay, sorghum (during July and 

 August), corn meal, bran, oil meal, and gluten feed. The conditions 

 were alike for all the animals, and the feed was the same, but each 

 animal was given all he would clean up regularly. At the end of the 



ilowa Bui. 20. 



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