/b THE MANAGI£i\IEi\T AND FEEDING UF CATTLE 



as ground, at least until the milk period is past. But 

 all seem to be agreed that for such feeding the cob 

 should not be ground with the corn. When the skim 

 milk can be spared, it may be fed up to the limit of the 

 capacity of the cah-es to take it, but never to the extent 

 of so overloading the stomach that scouring will be 

 induced. 



The relative profit from the two methods of growing 

 such beef will be, in a considerable degree, subject to 

 conditions. It is more influenced, probably, by the avail- 

 ability and cost of labor than by any other factor. 

 A\'here labor on the farm comes from the farm itself, the 

 larger profit will unquestionably result from hand-feed- 

 ing. But it has been found quite practicable to grow 

 baby beef when the cattle thus grown have been bought 

 on the range at weaning time, that is, at the age of five to 

 six months. Usually, however, such animals must be fed 

 on until, say, i8 to 22 months old. 



The animals must start well. — In growing baby beef 

 it is manifest, first, that the animals must be given a good 

 health}- start in the process of development ; second, 

 that growth will be interrupted by no prolonged periods 

 of arrested development; third, that the gains must 

 be reasonably rapid from the start ; and, fourth, that 

 the condition of flesh in which the animals are main- 

 tained is higher than would be necessary for the proper 

 growing of cattle for breeding uses. 



Unless the calves can be given a good start, the expec- 

 tation of growing them into suitable baby beef would be 

 hopeless; and the younger the age at which they are to 

 be finished, the more forlorn would be the hope, as even 

 though the^' should make satisfactory development later, 

 which is more than problematical, the lack of weight 

 would greatly reduce the return. Ever}^ care should be 

 exercised, therefore, in giving them a start during the 

 first weeks of life, and one that will in no way tend to im- 

 pair a vigorous digestion. Feeding milk too infrequently 



