QUALITY OF YOUNG BEEF. 255 



above 24 months, and the best feeding will frequently 

 reduce this to 20 months. 



THE ECONOMY OF YOUNG BEEF. 



We have just been discussing the quality of young beef. 

 It is now important to show the reader the fundamental 

 law of growth as proved by the gain which cattle make at 

 different periods or ages. We have had no means of deter- 

 mining this question in a great practical way till the insti- 

 tution of the Chicago Fat-Stock shows. Some great lesson 

 was necessary to be taught, in a practical way, which should 

 show farmers, by ocular demonstration, the true system of 

 feeding. They can see the bearing of facts presented tan- 

 gibly before them in the exhibition of the best specimens 

 of cattle of various ages, and this is an illustration which 

 carries conviction. The author had taught, for years, that 

 all profit lay in full feeding and early maturity ; but no 

 statement could be so forcible as an array of cattle of all 

 ages, from one year to six, with the exact age and weight 

 of each stated. Seeing is believing. 



The show held in 1878 was remarkable as the first one ; 

 but the four exhibitions that have followed since, have each 

 improved upon its predecessor, and all have given the 

 classification of age, weight, measurement, and gain per 

 day. In this respect our show teaches a much more prac- 

 tical lesson than the great Smithfield Show of England. 

 Sir J. B. Lawes has complained of his countrymen's want 

 of exactness in estimating the weight of animals instead 

 of actually weighing them. It is a very important point 

 that we take a more practical view of the matter, and 

 bring every animal to the scales. We adopb the com- 

 mercial standard substitute fact for hypothesis. And 

 when we apply a demonstrated improvement in feeding 

 to our 38,000,000 of cattle, the result must reach great 

 proportions. 



