BABY BEEF 225 



farms having a limited amount of pasturage, but 

 where it is not possible to keep breeding animals 

 in sufficient numbers to raise heavy steers for mar- 

 ket trade. The ease and relative cheapness with 

 which gains are secured upon young animals and 

 the relative high prices which the market has 

 offered in recent years gives this type of feeding 

 under present farm conditions a decided advantage 

 over the old plan of fattening steers. 



INDIANA EXPERIENCE 



During recent seasons a considerable number 

 of western calves were finished for baby beef in cen- 

 tral Indiana. Among the more successful feeders is 

 Ed Flannigan of Franklin county. In 1908 Mr. 

 Flannigan purchased 30 head of high-grade Here- 

 ford calves in Kansas City, shipped them to his 

 Indiana farm, and fed them out for baby beef. The 

 results were so satisfactory that the following fall 

 he purchased 60 head at the same market for him- 

 self, and something like 600 head for neighboring 

 farmers in Franklin county. The 60 head which 

 Mr. Flannigan retained for his own feeding were 

 unusually high-grade Herefords. They were un- 

 branded, which showed that they probably came 

 from Kansas or Oklahoma stock farms. When 

 seen in March, in the feeding pens, they were in 

 most excellent condition, and their quality showed 

 to the very best advantage. It would have taken 

 an expert to distinguish them from pure-bred Here- 

 fords. As to the details of handling these cattle 

 from the time they were taken from their mothers, 

 and the feeds and feeding methods used, Mr. Flan- 

 nigan stated that the calves averaged 400 pounds 

 when purchased in Kansas City, and that they cost 

 him $4.75 per 100 pounds. 



