104 Types and Market Classes of Live Stock 



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. 



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 practically the same, thus 

 verifying the results of the first test. 



Why England prefers heifer beef.-i^It is a well-known fact that 

 Englishmen make no discriminations 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 as 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. 



Evidently English and American standards for meats vary some- 

 what, 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 accordingly. 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 discrimination in price against 

 fat young heifers as against fat heifers of older age. 



The question of spaying.-r-As the experiment discussed above dealt 

 with spayed and open heifers, a word may be said here about the com- 

 parative merits of the two from the standpoint of the feeder. As a 

 rule, open heifers make greater gains because of the setback caused by 

 the operation of spaying. Once recovered from the operation, the 

 spayed heifers gain faster, but do not reach as large weights as open 

 heifers. The recurrence of heat in open heifers and their restlessness 

 at that time retards the gains made, as compared with spayed heifers 

 recovered from the operation. Spayed heifers are said to yield beef 

 of slightly higher quality. Spaying entails a certain expense and there 

 is danger of mortality. The general practice is not to spay when it is 



Iowa Bui. 33. 



