138 THE WORLD'S MEAT FUTURE 



The calves were purchased, and were weighed out on the 6th of 

 ^lay, having been 164 days on feed. Forty-four head weighed 

 a total of 34,880 lbs., an average of over 702 lbs. The gain made 

 by each calf averaged about 305 lbs. for the period. A lot of 

 eight Herefords made the largest gains during the feeding. On 

 6th May this lot, averaging just under twelve months of age, 

 weighed 950 lbs. each. Another lot of fifteen, averaging in age 

 under eleven months, weighed 798 lbs. each; a third lot of six 

 head of the same age, 786 lbs. ; and a pen of fifteen of the 

 youngest calves 706 lbs. 



This out-turn shows a net profit of nearly £2/1/2 per head. 

 Considering feed prices this year, this may be considered a 

 very fair return. Under ordinary' conditions, with grain worth 

 about 3/1 per awt. instead of 6/2, with hay at least 8/2f per 

 ton cheaper, and with the price of the finished product as high 

 as that realised — for these calves sold at a i moderate price, 

 considering their quality and finish — there would have been a 

 net profit of £3/9/11 per head. Careful observation of 



these calves during the winter confirmed the following practical 

 conclusions, about which there is perhaps nothing very new : — 

 That feeding calves for baby beef pays even under prevailing 

 high prices for feeds and moderate prices for beef. That the 

 best gains are made by calves about eight months old at the 

 beginning of the feeding period. That it pays to select the 

 calves carefully, taking only those that carry a fair amount 

 of natural fleshing and that have never had a set-back. That 

 beef type and natural fleshing are the controlling factors in 

 determining the length of time and quantity of feed required 

 to fit a calf for the block ; calves of dairy type and calves of beef 

 type lacking somewhat in fleshing at the start ^vill not make 

 gain comparable with that made by deep-fleshed, low-set, thick, 

 bloeky calves that have never had their growth cheeked — calves of 

 the thin-fleshed order incline to belly-fat, and do not cover 

 deeply Math flesh on the back and loin. The last conclusion is 

 that quietness in the food lot, gentleness in handling the calves, 

 and careful attention to feeding regularly have nearly as much 

 to do with the final results as has the feed. 



