2l6 PROFITABLE STOCK RAISING 



by early feeding is a very strong argument in favor 

 of fitting beef animals for the block before they 

 are two-year-olds. This abihty of young animals 

 to make greater use of their feed lies in the fact 

 that nearly half of the feed consumed is used in 

 maintaining weight already gained. The larger 

 and heavier the animal the more energy, and con- 

 sequently the more feed is required to keep up the 

 body heat, build up broken-down tissues, keep the 

 blood in circulation and perform the bodily func- 

 tions incidental to maintenance. 



TYPES AND KINDS 



In the production of early baby beef, calves which 

 have run with their dams during the first five or 

 six months furnish the best foundation for high- 

 class feeders. Such calves are usually in better 

 flesh at weaning time and make more thrifty and 

 vigorous growth during their early life and have 

 developed better feeding capacities than calves 

 which have been hand-fed the greater part of this 

 period. Where the calves are raised primarily to 

 be fed for baby beef and it is desired to market 

 them at the earliest possible age, feeding should 

 begin as soon as the young calf can be induced to 

 eat, since the successful finishing of baby beef is 

 essentially a forcing process. It is important that 

 the maximum amount of growth and weight should 

 be secured in the shortest possible time regardless 

 of considerations of the after efifect, which would 

 be imperative if the animal were kept for 

 breeding purposes. The sole object of feeding and 

 managing should be to mature a calf as young as 

 possible and with a high degree of quality and 

 finish. The best baby beef type is the low-down 



