Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1898-06-23
14k;4
Steer anal He,fer Rear.

Steer and Heifer Beef.
Farmers Bulletin %: Widely differ
ent opinions are held as to the COM
parattve value Of steer and heifer beef.
American packers rate steers at from
Is to so cents per hundred more than
heifers of the same age, breed and gem
eral qualities. On the other hand, the
opinion in England is the reverse,
heifer beef being rated higher than
steer beef. For some years feeding ex-
periments have been made at the Iowa
station to study the comparative value
Of steers and heifers for fattening. In
the first trial one lot of steers, one lot
of spayed heifers. and one lot of open
heifers were used. They were all
grade Shorthorns, as nearly alike in
breeding and development as possible.
There were five animals in each lot.
The lots were fed and treated in the
same manner. Seven of the heifers
calved during the trial, which inter-
fered with the comparison. The steers
made larger gain and sold for cent
per pound, live weight. more than the
heifers. During the whole test, which
lasted about eleven months. the steers
made an average gain of 800 pounds;
one open heifer, clear of calf, gained
IT'S pounds; four open heifers that
had calves made an average gain of
628 pounds; two spayed heifers, clear
OF calf, made an average gain Of 736
pounds; and three spayed heifers that
had calves averaged GAS pounds gain.
The steers were sold at SIS cents
and the heifers at AIS cents per pound,
live weight. Allowing 3.5 cents per
pound for the steers and O. cents for
the heifers at the beginning of the
trial, there was profit of $64.39 on
the steers, $3051 on the unspayed heif-
ers and $13.76 on the spayed heifers.
The average proportion of beef in the
carcass was 63.2 per cent for the steers,
GA for the unspayed heifers and 62.8
for the spayed heifers. When slaugh-
tered the carcasses were cut and judg-
ed by an expert. The heifers gave a
larger percentage Of prime cuts cribs
and loins) than the steers, so that, on
the basis of the meat and by-products
obtained and the price paid for the
steers, the heifers were worth from
O.57 to 0.62 cent pound more than
was paid for them. Crediting each lot
with the actual value of the different
cuts and the by-products, and not in
Guiding the expense of killing and
handling, it is calculated that, at the
prices which the butcher paid, he
made $20.45 on the steers, $5S.12 on
the unspayed heifers, and $64.84 on
the spayed heifers. In other words, the
returns made by the heifers would
have justified a purchase price of $5.37
per hundred for the spayed heifers and
1892 for the open heifers, instead Of
$4.75 for each, and still have left tle
same profit as with the steers.
Shortage of Beeves in Texas.
Shippers of beef stock state that
there are now very few cattle on the
ranges in Texas fit for the market,
says Howard, Barteldes & Co. The
feeding pens in Texas, as well as the
Indian Territory have been about
cleared of their feeders. The feed lots
are likely to remain empty, as there
does not appear to be any source in
sight from which to replenish them.
1t is said it will be at least three
months before anything in the shape of
grass-fed beeves will appear on any
of the big markets. Even when they
do, owing to the impoverished condi-
ton of the ranges, the number will be
small-far below the shipment of last
year. The large number of cattle now
feeding on the Indian Territory pas
lures may help the situation a little
for time so far as the supply of
beeves goes in the northern market,
but that there is now any great num-
Der of beef cattle in Texas, as COM
pared with other years, no well-in-
formed cattle raiser believes. Many
Ehink that the shortage in Texas only
exists in the agricultural counties, at
least many of those who are willing to
admit that there is any shortage at all
in Texas, and they state that the south
ern part of the state is the most Sc
riously affected, utterly overlooking
the fact that neither in the Panhandle
nor in west Texas could anyone to-
day buy 10000 head of aged steers in
the two entire districts. The young
stock now growing up, and many vet
unborn, have been contracted for. and
paid for, too, and they will leave the
country this coming fall.
Vaccine for Blackleg-A few months
ago circular letter was distributed
offering to supply vaccine prepared in
the bureau for experimental purposes
upon application of the owners of cat
tie, providing a report were made as
to the losses from this disease and the
effects of the vaccination. The infor-
nation thus received has been yerv
surprising. 1t appears that blackleg
causes greater losses in some of the
Southern and Western states than all
other diseases combined. These losses
are placed at from 10 to 20 per cent Of
the young stock. About 100000 doses
Of the vaccine have been distributed.
and reports show that it can be safely
used by the owners of cattle and that