96 Miscellaneous Circular 74, U. S. Dept. of Agriculture 
crosses. Recently, records have been kept for some classes, but they 2 
are not complete enough to warrant publication. "a 
In this connection a study of the marketing data in Table 2 — 
shows in a striking manner that most of the Sni-a-Bar steers sold 
as yearlings rather than as older cattle. This is especially the — 
case during the last 5 years of the 10-year period. The relative 
economy of feeding early maturing cattle is well known through 
practical experience. Gains of young steers on feed averaged more —~ 
than 2 pounds daily and the quality was that of “baby beef” — 
or closely approaching it. ; 
Fic, 20.—Loin steak from same sSecond-cross steer. Note the high degree of marbling 
SUMMARY AND CONCLUSIONS 
Ten years’ experience in grading up beef cattle at Sni-a-Bar 
Farms has yielded the following results and conclusions: 
The use of purebred sires of acceptable quality results in suc- 
cessive improvement in the quality of the calf crop, as shown by 
conformation and market price. 
The greatest single step toward improved quality, compared with 
common stock, occurs in the first cross. Subsequent crosses in- 
crease quality and market value still more, though in less marked 
degree. 
Quality and the best market prices are approximately in propor- 
tion to the number of crosses of pure breeding. 
After the third or fourth cross the offspring compare very favor- 
ably with purebred stock in conformation, and only exceptionally 
good sires can bring about further improvement. 
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