270 PRODUCTIVE FEEDING OF FARM ANIMALS 
accidents through sickness, like indigestion and blackleg, than in 
feeding older cattle. 
In order to make satisfactory baby beef, calves must be of good 
beef type, low set and blocky, from a pure-bred, early-matured 
beef bull (Fig. 66). Such a bull will sire a high percentage of 
excellent beef calves from good grade cows, but it is not likely 
that calves from scrub or dairy cows can be fattened into sufficiently 
Tipe carcasses at the age required. Calves fed for baby beef must 
be kept steadily gaining until they are ready for the market. They 
generally receive their dam’s milk until weaning time, and are fed 
grain as soon as they learn to eat it; whole corn and oats in the 
Fia. 66.—A grand champion Shorthorn bull. (Breeders’ Gazette.) 
proportion of 3 to 1, with some pea-size linseed meal, will make a 
very satisfactory grain mixture for calves, and with a good grade 
of hay or pasture will produce excellent gains. After weaning, 
they are gradually brought on to full feed and receive the 
mixture given, with some wheat bran or similar protein feed. 
A little cornstalks may be also fed to advantage. Baby beef calves 
dropped in the spring are rarely ready for market. until July of the 
following year; they are generally marketed during the last months 
of the year, at about 18 months old, when they should weigh about 
1100 pounds. 
. Calves raised on skim milk and grain are also sometimes fed 
for baby beef, but this requires special skill and experience because 
of the difficulty of keeping the calves steadily gaining by this sys- 
