FEEDING OE BEEF COWS IN THE CORN BELT. 3 
straw so wasted might be used to replace some of the more valuable 
feeds that beef cows receive. It is true that in many parts of the 
country in times past it has been better farm economy to allow these 
products to be destroyed rather than to try to use them. However, 
under present conditions, not only is it necessary that cattle should 
be handled in such a manner as to use as much of these by-products 
as possible, but also, if possible, the farm business should be arranged 
so that enough stock is kept to consume fully these cheap roughages. 
These cheaper rough feeds can be utilized more fully than is cus- 
tomary and much less grain and hay need be fed to breeding herds. 
This is demonstrated by the results of the investigation upon which 
this bulletin is based. In this investigation approximately 1,000 
farms were visited, and detailed information was obtained on the 
cost of maintaining the breeding herds on these farms as well as on 
Fig. 1. — Here the straw is fed in the winter feed lot, where the cattle run to the stack 
and trample under foot the straw they do not eat. In this particular case the straw 
is not even saved for manure. 
the cost of producing the feeder cattle. In addition to the cost 
accounting figures, a study also was made of the methods used in 
caring for the cattle. This study is based on records from 478 of 
these farms, upon which the breeding herds were kept solely for the 
production of calves to be fed out as baby beef, two-year-olds, or 
three-year-olds. On these farms the average cost of a calf at wean- 
ing time, figuring all expenses and deducting all credits, was $37. 
There was, however, a very wide range in the cost of these calves, 
depending somewhat on the locality in which the calves were raised 
and very largely on the methods followed in producing them. On 
some farms this cost was as low as $25 per calf, while on others it 
exceeded $50. 
On the farms visited there was a very wide range both in the 
quantity and the kind of rations fed. Some farmers were feeding 
a ration that was hardly adequate, while others were giving their 
