Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1889-03-16
A s.udv of the Beef Breeds.

Al the Chicago Fat Stock show last
fall, most interesting feature Of the exhi- /
bition vas q group Of ten bead Of thor /
o1shbred cattle representing SIX leading
breeds, shown by the Michigan Agricultural
College. The breeds represented by Jersey,
Galloway, Devon, Hereford, Holstein, and
shortborn. This group bad all been fed
slixe-vith the exception Of quantify-for
the purpose Of making possible some cor, Of
Of comparison between the beef capaeitie.
o. the DID rent breeds The questions aud
facts i, fciyed In such a study are Of the ut
mc.f importance to the livestock interests Of
the cogsiry, and every contribution toward
TIE actual settlement Of the matter. will be
looked on With interest Prof. Samuel
Johnson, under whose directions the trial.
we're made, has published report Of the
results Of examinations upon representation.
of the body above named which
not only contains important tables
bu, very valuable general conclusions This
sst +, Of so much usefulness to farmers . ho
are growing or fAttening cattle as one Of
,heir leading points in husbaadry that We
transfer Prof John.on's results To our col
arns, askin. for them a very careful read
ing
lot. The experiment seems 10 Indicate
that there is bot little difference in the east
per pound Of raising steers Of the different
breed. under the same conditions. The So
peeiority Of the beef breeds rather lies In
their early maturing qualities which enable.
The feeder to turn them of, we'll rpeAed, al
two instead Of three years
"a. That calves brought up on the pail,
shtn properly fed will make as much grow III
and be equally as valuable for feeding as II
they were alIOsed to suekle their dams. 49,
81. I lat there il likely TO BIS a wide
margin Of difference hstwef.s the iudgment.
Of the feeder, the kY' ner and the consumer
"hsn they -piss upon the bullock IN the live
cla-se., IN the carcass competition as vel, az
ia the testing of the edible qualities of the
meat.
ith. That prejudice resulting from a lack
u information may be. too often IS, the ba-
as Of our estimates Of the comparative value
Of breeds.
9Th. That early maturing breeds mas be
Kept until over ripe, thus lcs,ening the value
Of the carcass for the consumer.
9Th The lesson is very emphaiically
taught that average native steers. weighing
from 100 to 1900 pounds, at three years, or
often much less cannot be raised and ted
9Th profit, Well bred steers wei Ching from
FIVE hundred 10 eight hundred pounds or NOR,
at the ssme age. may be. The vaiue OF good
blood for beef production cannot, then BE-
IL La
and rkllful feeding, in these times and
with the present markets, bridge the marg n
between loss and profit for the grower aud
feeder.
7th. That the quality of beef produced BY
combined gram ration IA which wheat
bran, oats and oil meal form the principal
part, is preferable TO that produced by corn
ration eKrlusiyely | believe these animals
would have hal much less percentage Of
meat valuable to butcher and consumer If
corn had entered largely into their grain IA
ton.
Sth. The lesson is plainly taught that
early maturing breeds may be sold it'll most
profit, perhaps, at one year, If pushed from
the start.
The cost per pound of production is great
ly increased with each succeeding year
Certainly, under most favorable conditions
they should reach the limit of profit at from
- To 80 months at latest. This may be
modified in ordinary feeding by the facl thar
the yoarlng steer will need more expensive
food than older ones. The latter will con
sumo more rough fodder probably than the
former.
ph. That the largest per cent of dressed
to hive weight does not always indicate the
best quality of meat nor the most profitable
carcass for the dealer or consumer. So that
the commonly received opinion, that the
steer HAT ,hrnks least in killing il The best
for The butcher. must be more or less modi-
n. a nv nIhnr nnnlILIuns