i8o 



Baby Beef. 



[JUNE, 



Unfortunately, the Smithfield Show does not include 

 beeflings or calves ready at about 12 months old, and it is to 

 them more especially that I refer when speaking of baby 

 beef. I have, however, some particulars of five such animals 

 — only one being a show beast— and these animals averaged 

 8 cwt. live weight at just under 12 months old. Assuming 

 that they would only average 57 per cent, of carcass weight to 

 live weight,* they would give a return of 36 stone for each 

 beast. This would give us £14. 8s. for the first 12 months 

 of life. 



These figures may be compared with the results of certain 

 American experiments with regard to the cost of raising beef 

 to different ages, which showed that while it cost 15s. to 

 produce 100 lb. of live-weight on a calf from 1 to 12 months 

 old, the cost of producing the same weight on animals from 

 12 to 24 months old was 30s., and with animals from 24 to 

 36 months of age it was 45s. 



Advantages of Early Maturity. — There are further advan- 

 tages to be got by having young stock ready early. The 

 animal that is ready at 12 months old can go to market then, 

 or, if necessary, can be kept for a favourable opportunity. 

 He will do well till he is 18 months old, and this allows 

 6 months in which to catch a market. If, on the other hand, 

 we take a 30 months old bullock and do him well for, say, 

 24 weeks, the animal must be sold then even if the market 

 is against us, as after that period of forced feeding nearly all 

 his food will go for sustenance, and his increase of weight 

 will be but small. A further reason for selling early is that 

 in the case of small prime beef there is less competition from 

 the foreigner, who has not the same facilities for the produc- 

 tion of baby beef. 



Having now spoken of the advantages, we must enumerate 

 some of the disadvantages alleged against the system. It is 

 said to demand better stock than is required for other methods 

 of raising beef. It is, however, a fact that decently bred 

 animals of our beef breeds will answer the purpose, and Mr. 

 H. Evershed f has shown how calves from ordinary large 



* Young cattle do not yield so well as older beasts, though in one of the instances 

 before me, that of a Sussex, the return was actually 60 per cent. 

 : t R-A.S.E. Journal, 1890, p. 60. 



