Union County courier. [volume] (Elk Point, Union County, D.T. [S.D.]) 187?-1913, 1885-12-09
THE sfocKBREEDER.
TAtck Fat or F9csh. WhteNg

II IL not the heasiess nor the fattcst animal
That should bring the highest price for tle
butchsrb block, but that animal giving the
largest percentage Of lean meat to live weight.
with the meat fiber to make II palatable. iuicy
and nourishins. The fat parts of beef cattle
or mnfscfs sheep are little used az human food.
Hence the crucial test must ever be the great
est proportion of lean meat tmuscle) TO the car
case.
It ~ well known that steers quickly fed to
fatness on sweet, flush pssturage give the most
succulent and finely favored food. Whys The
relative proportion OF fat and lean Is normal.
rat cows sell for less money per pound than
steers. Why agains The proportion Of fat ID
lean ls Greater, az the principal eat,se, and, as
: secondary reason although better favored
than that Of The buii, the meat Of the COW is
NOT 30 delicate ~ that Of the steer. Fashion,
however. years ago, decided that a carcass
must be considered inferior IL il did not show
Immense development of fat, even 10 great
patehy masses on the outside. II was estab-
hstied ~ the good old days Of tallow candles,
when tat was one Of the most important parts
q the animal. So long ~ fashion demands
TINS feeders must cater 10 it. Indian corn will
easily make fat Some food, richer in phos-
phate and nitrogen, however, IL required with
corn, 70 keep the proportion Of fat and lean
equal u the true relation as between fat and
lean were understood by the buyer this could
pc produced probably cheaper to the consumer
than the monsters Of fat 80 much admired At
our fAt-stock shows. Yet 80 long a. the feeder
and buyer alike take pride in theAe fat-over-
loaded animals there will be no change. The
Iact, however, remains constant: the last 100
pounds OF fat added 10 . steer, ripe in fe-b.
Md only to the cost Of the succulent lean meat
produced.
Tn OF the results of this fashion has been
me forcing OF breeding cattle until they now,
through bercdity, early develop fat abnormal.
". The yearling OF q mountain of blubbery fat
10 gazed on with wonder. Grade Devons and
weil-bred native steers, however, continue TO
fill the eye Of the butcher and the true eastron,
omist II is so IN England. The black cattle.
the Devon, and the graded Hereford bring the
best prices AT Smithfield market. The reaction
mas already set in III the United States, to The
cnect that, a yearling OF a twp-year-oid, how
ever tat, does not constitute a beef animal. and
IN the case OF that wonderful animal of bovine
development, tho Shorthorn, seryiceable ami
NAL, even what would bo called by some breed
ers plainly bredN-what the seller hoping 10
get something over a hundred dollars for would
call useful'-these are coming TO have more
aud more advocates year by year. They are
not wonders OF precocious fairness, but they are
nevertheless just the animals, whatever the
breed, that, bought at 500 to $50 fur a bull,
will pay 100 per cent on the investment 20
breed grades OH the common stock OF the
farmer, II they lack somewhat of
maturity they give stout hearty feeding
calves that will make thick -fieshed steers and
cows OF more than average goodness at the
pail. There would seem to be no better time
Tor the intending purchaser than now to enable
he bull to become fully @wontedr TO the herd
before the breeding season commences. -Lhi-
ago Tribune.