BEEF CATTLE 183 
difficult and complicated specialty. No one should en- 
gage in it who is not a skillful judge of cattle. Good 
quality, a strong constitution and right conformation are 
basic essentials behind profit in this business. 
3. General beef production.—Two classes of producers 
are engaged in beef production. One class makes it its 
business to grow the beef stock or “feeders,” the other 
to feed and fatten this stock for market. At one time 
the wide areas of the western plains were more or less 
BaBY BEEF 
These are now ready for market. Note the high quality and finish. 
covered with vast hordes of cattle which were tended 
and cared for by ranchers and cowboys. Many of these 
animals were purchased by farmers in the corn-belt sec- 
tions, who fed them corn and grass, thus fitting them 
for market. This feeding stock was full grown in frame 
but thin in condition. The passing of the ranges has 
reduced the output of this kind of cattle. From now on 
beef will be produced largely on farms where other ac- 
tivities also are pursued. Cheap lands no longer being 
available, the production of “feeder” stock on ranges 
naturally will decline and the cost of producing beef as 
a consequence will advance. 
