CHAPTER XII 



FEEDING BEEF CATTLE 



Feeding beef cattle differs considerably from feeding dairy 

 cattle, as well as from feeding horses. In the case of horse feed- 

 ing, the product sought is energy in the form of work ; in the 

 case of dairy cattle the product is milk; whereas in the case 

 of beef cattle the product is flesh. This calls for special 

 methods of feeding, special foods or food combinations, and 

 special management. Much discussion was devoted (in Chap- 

 ter IX, page 203) to the production of milk in which it was 

 treated largely as an independent industry because of the 

 fact that the successful dairymen have time for Uttle if anything 

 else; whereas beef production is not a special industry and 

 does not require all of the feeder's time, and on the average 

 is conducted successfully only in connection with grain farm- 

 ing. Among successful beef producers, beef-raising is regarded 

 as a convenient way of marketing grain, as well as a means 

 of conserving soil fertility, and hence the ability to grow more 

 grain to feed more stock and also a profitable means of utiliz- 

 ing much coarse forage which otherwise would be largely wasted. 



ESSENTIALS OF FEEDING CATTLE 



In feeding beef cattle one of the most important factors is 

 the kind of cattle, for on the choice of them will turn in a 

 large measure the possibility of success. In considering the 

 cattle with a view of estimating their profit as beef producers, 

 there are a number of essentials to be taken into account. 



275 



