CHAPTER XI 
CARE AND MANAGEMENT OF BEEF CATTLE 
To be successful in the production of beef cattle, we must have 
due regard for regularity in all matters pertaining to the care 
and management of the cattle. This applies particularly to feed- 
ing and watering. Cattle anticipate the hour of feeding and 
become nervous if it is long delayed; they bellow, coax, and be- 
come much excited, all of which must be avoided if beef is to be 
produced economically. 
304. Plan of improvement. — Before deciding upon a plan of 
breeding beef cattle, one should visit farms where beef cattle are 
successfully bred, noting conditions and comparing them with his 
own. Such improvement as he may be able to bring about must be 
upon the common native cattle of the community. To dispose of 
the native cattle and purchase well-bred uniform cattle would be 
very expensive and in most cases very unprofitable. The task is 
then to adopt some plan of breeding that will result in an improve- 
ment of the native stock. In most cases this can be most profit- 
ably accomplished by the grading-up process; that is, by the use 
of pure-bred bulls on the native common females. 
305. Codperative grading-up. — A very successful plan to im- 
prove the beef-producing qualities of the cattle of a locality is by 
the codperative grading-up method. The formation of beef- 
breeding associations throughout a given locality would do much 
to advance the progress of the industry, p. 164. 
306. Raise heifer calves from best cows. — Because of the 
excellency of the heifer calves from the good cows, the cattle feeder 
is tempted to fatten them for beef. This should not be done. 
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