FEEDING BEEF CATTLE 249 



legume, and silage, with a comparatively small grain feed. 

 It is important that the growth be constant during the win- 

 ter, so that as a yearhng the next spring it will go on grass 

 in right condition. Over much of the country, if pastures 

 hold out well, the yearlings get no grain, depending entirely 

 on grass. In case of dry weather and short grass, however, 

 it will pay to give some extra feed. Green corn or silage 

 are invaluable at this time. In those sections where good 

 blue-grass pastures prevail, cattle will do well, even though 

 the grass lose much of its succulence. The second winter 

 much the same treatment may be followed, with a larger 

 feed of silage, but not much increase in grain. It is desir- 

 able to bring the breeding heifers vip to calving as econom- 

 ically as is consistent with satisfactory growth. One should 

 always keep in mind that the requirements for growth are 

 protein foods, with suitable minerals therein, of which alfalfa, 

 the clovers, and cowpeas are good examples. 



The feeding of fattening cattle calls for other treatment 

 than that used for the breeding herd. We have another 

 purpose in preparing cattle for the butcher, hence a different 

 combination of foods is needed. In the fattening of cattle 

 we have several conditions under which feeders operate, 

 namely, producing "baby" beef, summer feeding, fattening 

 yearlings and two-year-olds, and preparing short-fed cattle. 

 Each of these methods is herewith briefly considered. 



"Baby" beef represents a class of cattle weighing from 

 800 to 1,200 pounds at 12 to 20 months of age, and are of 

 superior beef blood, conformation, quality, and finish. To 

 be finished as baby beef, these cattle must have been well 

 fed from the start, and maintained their calf fat from the 

 milk-diet period. In beef of this sort, it is necessary to feed 

 a larger proportion of concentrates and a smaller amount of 

 roughage than is fed to older fattening cattle. If one is to 

 grow baby beef, it is preferable to have the calves come in 

 the early spring. Begin grain feeding early, before weaning. 



