PURDUE UNIVERSITY 



Agricultural Experiment Station 



CIRCULAR No. 8. 



, IND., OCTOBER, 1907. 



BEEF PRODUCTION, 



I. 



PURCHASING FEEDERS 



By J. H. SKINNER AND W. A. 



Beef production in Indiana usually follows one of two dis- 

 tinct lines. Either the feeder raises his own cattle and finishes 

 them for market, which is beef production in its true sense, or he 

 buys his stackers and feeders either from the producer or some 

 central market and finishes them, which is beef feeding (finish- 

 ing) rather than beef production. 



Undoubtedly the first class, beef producers, can afford to 

 handle nothing but the best cattle. Their problem is one of breed- 

 ing and feeding. Their methods of handling stock will depend 

 largely upon local conditions. If they have an abundance of land 

 suitable for grazing, they may possibly afford to carry their cattle 

 in summer on grass, in winter on rough feed until they weigh 

 from 1,000 to 1,200 pounds; then give them a short heavy grain 

 feed, finishing them for market at 24 to 36 months of age. This 

 method requires a minimum amount of grain in proportion to 

 roughage. 



If all of the land is such that it will produce good crops of 

 corn, a different system should be followed. The aim of the pro- 

 ducer then should be to grow and fatten his animals at the same 

 time, so that they will go on the market as prime yearlings, weigh- 

 ing around 1,000 pounds at 15 months of age. This method de- 



