58 



BULLETIN 905, U. S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 



sible in the little-used muscles of the back and loin. The high- 

 priced cuts from the back and loin, in fact, do form a slightly larger 

 percentage of the dressed weight in beef steers than in common ones. 

 The greater value of the meat from steers of beef breeding is largely, 

 however, ascribed to the somewhat elusive element quality. 



If the greater use of purebred bulls is merely to improve the average 

 quality of beef and not to increase the quantity produced in the 

 country with a given consumption of feed, it may seem to be of no 

 very great importance. It appears, however, that in this case 

 superior quality really means greater food value. The essential 

 differences between a beef steer and the average scrub are probably 



Fig. 17. — Aberdeen- Angus steer of excellent beef type. 



brought out most thoroughly in an experiment by Dr. H. P. Armsby 

 and J. A. Fries (Bureau of Animal Industry Bulletin 128). 



An Aberdeen-Angus steer was fed in comparison with a scrub. 

 The utilization of the feed was investigated by the most thorough 

 methods. In agreement with the usual results, there was little 

 difference in gains or cost per pound of gain. The beef steer dressed 

 out better — 60 per cent compared with 54.5 per cent — and the loin 

 formed 17.5 per cent of the dressed weight, compared with 16.4 per 

 cent in the scrub, which had more weight in the cheaper cuts. The 

 beef steer, though greater in height and length of body at a year of 

 age, was reached or passed by the scrub later in those respects. The 

 beef steer, however, greatly surpassed the scrub in girth of body. 

 Evidently the scrub continued growing for a longer time in bone and 



