BABY BEEF 



219 



low, however, that only one extreme type will re- 

 turn a profit from the feed yard. Calves from dual 

 purpose breeds, such as milking Shorthorns or Red 

 Polled, frequently finish very smoothly and make 

 good use of their feed. The purely dairy breeds 

 can usually, with careful feeding and good care, be 

 fattened at good profit. Holstein calves are espe- 

 cially adaptable to this purpose when they are 

 handled from the time of birth with the idea of 

 marketing them for beef. The heavy grain feed- 

 ing forces a rapid growth and a corresponding pro- 

 duction of fat, so that the pronounced dairy type 

 does not predominate until 15 or 16 months old, and 

 by this time they should be ready for market. 



HOW TO FEED 



It is unquestionably true that the most rapid 

 growth and the best development of the beef type 

 can be produced by beginning comparatively heavy 

 grain feeding while the calves are still with their 

 dams. This grain feeding should be begun as soon 

 as the calves will eat, when they may be given a 

 little bran and crushed oats. They will learn to eat 

 shelled corn at an early age, and this should be 

 gradually introduced, after which the grain ration 

 should be about one-half shelled corn, one-fourth 

 oats and one-fourth bran. There is no single grain 

 calculated to form a more satisfactory supplement 

 to the milk diet than oats, and if one grain only is 

 available it should be this one. Its high protein 

 content in connection with the well-balanced ration 

 furnished by milk serves to build a good frame and 

 tends toward muscular development. Shelled corn 

 is a fattening feed, and when used in connection 

 with the oats and milk completes a ration which 

 includes the maximum amount of muscle and fat 



