GROWTH AND FATTENING 



75 



continued for a year or longer, the animal will recover to a surprising 

 extent when placed on liberal feed, making unusually rapid and 

 economical gains. 



However, while a steer whose growth has been checked for a year 

 or more may grow nearly as tall as one always well fed, it is almost 

 certain to have a smaller digestive capacity, narrower hips, natter 

 ribs, heavier shoulders, and lighter hind quarters, even when well 

 fattened. The blocky form of the highly developed beef animal has 

 evidently been caused by broadening the animal thru liberal feeding 

 while young. If the feed is insufficient to distend the digestive tract 



y $ Mo. 

 Fig. 22.- 



Round Steaks from Steers Variously Fed 



Left, from steers fed medium ration; middle, from steers fed full ration; 

 right, from steers fed scant ration. Note large size and well-marbled appear- 

 ance of muscles from the full-fed steers and the scarcity of fat in the meat from 

 the steers fed the scant ration. (From Missouri Station.) 



and force out the ribs and hips while the body is yet plastic, then the 

 animal will never later reach the desired conformation of the true 

 beef type. 



These studies on growth are highly significant to the stockman. 

 They show that under certain conditions it may be profitable to carry 

 growing animals thru the winter on roughages alone, even tho they 

 lose slightly in weight, for on a return to good pasture, animals in 

 spare but thrifty condition make exceedingly economical gains. How- 

 ever, the breeder of any class of stock who seeks to develop his animals 

 toward an ideal must supply ample feed during the whole growth 



period. 



QUESTIONS 



1. How do the requirements for growing animals differ from those for main- 

 taining mature animals? 



2. Show by an example why the protein supply for growth must be not only 

 ample in quantity but also of the right quality. 



