22 



out of 721 replies, in round numbers, 7o per cent, answered 

 in the negative. 



All of this is further confirmed by the answer to the ques- 

 tion direct as to what age they usually put their cattle on full 

 feed. A study of this age summary is exceedingly interesting 

 and instructive, as the results are very striking. For example, 

 out of a total of 680 replies from Missouri, 257, or nearly 40 

 per cent, gave two years as the age at which their cattle were 

 put on full feed, which would mean with a six months feeding 

 period as was reported by them in answer to previous questions, 

 30 months old cattle when finished and ready for the market. 



Thirteen per cent gave 2.\ years of age, and n per cent 

 gave essentially the same answer, namely "between 2 and 3 

 years of age," as their preference. Thus more than 62 per cent 

 of the Missouri feeders reported that they put their cattle on 

 feed at between 2 and 3 years of age, as contrasted with less 

 than 4 per cent who put them on feed as calves, less than 4 

 per cent who put them on feed as yearlings, and but a fraction 

 over 4 per cent who put them on feed at i \ years of age. 



What is true of the reports from Missouri is essentially 

 true of Iowa and Illinois, as will be readily seen from the sum- 

 mary just presented. 



It is a significant fact that in Misouri, Iowa and Illinois 

 the number of men who put their cattle on feed at 3 years of 

 age was almost double the number who put their cattle on feed 

 under two years of 'age. 



THE CORN-BELT FEEDER IS NOT YET MAKING BABY BEEF. 



It is perfectly apparent from these data that after all that 

 has been said about the advantage of cheaper gains being made 

 by young cattle, the feeders of the cornbelt are not yet making 

 baby beef. It is impossible within the scope of this bulletin to 

 discuss this very intricate question in detail, and the reader is re- 

 ferred for a more elaborate discussion to an article by the writer 

 in the Annual Report of the State Board of Agriculture* and 

 to a forthcoming bulletin of the Experiment Station. 



* Waters: "Limitations of Baby Beef Production." 39th An- 

 nual Report, Missouri State Board of Agriculture, 1907. Pp. 114 166. 



