BABY BEEF 221 



mon use in many sections of the middle West and is 

 greatly relished by the calves. It has been the 

 experience of certain Indiana farmers who make a 

 practice of feeding clover hay and corn fodder that 

 the calves will consume bright, well-cured clean 

 fodder in preference to clover and make excellent 

 gains upon it. The experience of feeders who have 

 practiced shredding corn fodder and storing it in 

 large stacks for winter feeding also bears out this 

 statement. Shredded fodder in large stacks is likely 

 to heat a little and undergo a mild fermentation, 

 and it is the opinion of some feeders that this adds 

 both to palatability and digestibility. While it is 

 true that the larger percentage of calves finished 

 for baby beef do not receive any succulent feed dur- 

 ing the winter, it is equally true that feeds of this 

 character introduced into the ration return large 

 profits upon its cost. The value of succulent feed 

 is not so much in its intrinsic fattening properties 

 as in its tendency to regulate the digestive system 

 of the animal in such a way that a larger percent- 

 age of the grain and hay is transformed into fat 

 and muscle. In other words, it enables the animal 

 to make better use of the concentrated feeds and 

 forage given. The liberal use of succulent feeds 

 tends to produce the juiciness of meat and the high 

 finish of the animal which is so characteristic of 

 first-class baby beef. Corn silage is one of the 

 most satisfactory feeds of this character, and one 

 of the most easily available throughout the corn 

 belt. Root crops of all kinds, such as sugar beets 

 and mangel-wurzels are also valuable, and in sugar- 

 growing districts beet pulp from the factories 

 makes a very excellent succulent ration. Calves 

 which have been raised by their dams, and have 

 been fed in the manner just described should be 



