HOLSTEIN-FRIESIANS FOR BEEF. 137 



have attained weights of 3,500 Ibs. and upwards. The gain in weight by calves 

 of this breed is unprecedented. They frequently gain 100 Ibs. per month until 

 about a year old." 



At the experiment station of the Michigan Agricultural College, when two 

 each of Galloways, Shorthorns, Holstein-Friesians, Jerseys, and one Hereford 

 and one Devon were selected, and an accurate record kept for seven months of 

 food consumed, daily ration, monthly weight and gains, it was found that the 

 two Holstein-Friesians had the largest gain per day for a given time, and one of 

 the greatest gains per day since birth. It required seven pounds and a fraction 

 of a mixture of food to produce an increase of a pound in weight of Holsteins, 

 and more than ten pounds of the same mixture to produce the same increase in 

 the Shorthorns. The Holstein-Friesians showed themselves the most economical 

 feeders of all that were in the test. 



The Fat Stock Show usually held at Chicago has for its object the encour- 

 agement of the most economical production of the best quality of meat. The 

 large premiums offered and the emulation among breeders and feeders attract 

 in large numbers each succeeding year to the American Fat Stock Show the 

 choicest specimens of meat producing animals to be found on either continent. 

 The live stock entered for competition at this show most creditably represents 

 the best breeders of England, Scotland and the United States. As the Holstein- 

 Friesian is generally classed and developed as a dairy breed it is not to be 

 expected that entries of them "for competition" with the beef breeds would be 

 numerous. 



At the Fat Stock Show in 1886 there were twelve entries in the yearling 

 carcass class. The Holstein steer stood second, weighing 1,250 Ibs.; average 

 gain per day since birth, 2.02 Ibs. 



In rapidity of growth they are seldom equalled, and an example of marvel- 

 ous growth at the show of 1888 was the calf Ohio Champion, entered for compe- 

 tition by Mr. B. Waddel, of Marion, Ohio. The calf was but nine months old 

 and weighed 1,070 Ibs. He attracted marked attention. The feeding possibili- 

 ties of the breed are thus called to the attention of beef growers. Among the 

 fat cattle butchered at the Chicago Fat Show it was found that Holsteins 

 were the only breed that had the hindquarters heavier than the forequarters. 

 Now it is generally granted that hindquarter beef is the best and most expen- 

 sive. 



At the Fat Stock Show, Chicago, 1890, the heifer Daisy was 285 days old, 

 and weighed 850 Ibs., the gain per day was 2.98 Ibs.; and the steer Alpine Boy, 

 197 days old, weighed 495 Ibs., or a gam of 2.51 Ibs. per day since birth. At this 

 same show, Ben Johnson, 1,293 days old, weighed 1,945 Ibs.; Rattler, 1,319 days 

 old, weighed 2,085 Ibs.; Madolyn's Leader, 822 days old, weighed 1,470 Ibs.; 

 Tom, 789 days old, weighed 1,330 Ibs.; Van Asmus, 597 days old. weighed 1,170 

 Ibs.; and Spot, 688 days old, weighed 1,435 Ibs. These were all pure-bred Hol- 

 stein-Friesians, and their weight and gain per day show that they are excellent 

 beef animals. 



The claims of the Holstein-Friesian breed as a beef-producer have been 

 presented at this show for a number of years past, but never so strongly as on 

 this occasion (Fat Stock Show, 1890), says the Breeders Gazette. While the 

 numbers of the exhibits were not large it included the best representative of 

 the breed from a beef standpoint yet seen, unless the wonderfully ripe and 

 meaty calf Ohio Champion be excepted. The exhibitors were Mr. B. Waddel, 

 Marion, O., and Mr. M. L. Sweet. Grand Rapids, Mich. A pair of three-year- 

 olds were forward, from which Mr. Imboden selected Mr. Sweet's Ben Johnson 

 as the better. He is a growthy, heavy fellow, large of frame, and carries quite 

 a thick carcass of lean beef. He was better-backed than Mr. Waddel's nicely- 

 finished Rattler, being wider in his spring of rib and better covered on his loin 

 and rib. Positions were reversed in the two-year-olds, as the types of steers 

 shown were also reversed Mr. Waddel leading with Thomas, a shorter, thicker, 

 wider bullock than Mr. Sweet's level, rather rangy Madolyn's Leader. Thomas 

 has a square, level quarter and is well-meated in his loins. Mr. Waddel's 

 spayed yearling heifer Spot was the best of the breed on exhibition by all 

 odds. She is remarkably smooth, neat and deep-fleshed, and should make a 

 very handsome carcass. She was given the blue over Sweet's Van Asmus. 

 Waddel's Daisy, full sister to Ohio Champion, and a calf of much promise, had 

 the ticket in her class over Sweet's Alpine Boy. 

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