Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1898-12-06
FARM BEEF GROWING


Sons Interesting experiments have
just been concluded at the Minnesota
experiment station TO determine whether
or not beef can be grown at prodt on
the average Minnesota farm. The re-
suits reached are valuable in all the
western farming states where the con-
ditions Of farm beef growing will be, 10
the main, similar. Fall calves are select
ed, the offspring OF grade cows OF good
milking quality, sired by q pure bred
bull. They wers dropped in August and
September, 1895. They were little leg
gy and were not Of the blocky character
usually regarded as essential for making
the highest type Of beet steers. The food
fed them was first new milk, then skim
milk with meal, hay, soiling food, en-
silage, pasture and roots. Every effort
Was made TO keep the calves from the
beginning to the end under conditions
that could readily be duplicated on
almost any western farm. The aim was
to keep them growing, both as calves and
steers, up to the finishing period without
any undue fstness, and nothing was fed
except oil meal and bran, that is not
hsbituslly produced on the farm. All
food WAS charged up to the steers at
market prices. The average cost OF the
feed the first year Was els per head, the
average gain 6s l2 pounds and the aver
age increase In weight per day was l. 81
pounds The average cost OF food for
the second year WAS sl5 63, the average
increase In weight 40l pounds and the
increase Ia weight per day was IL
pounds. The finishing period began
Oct. IL, 1897, aud ended Jan. 81, 1898.
During the period the average food con-
sumption Was sl2 OF per head, the In
crease 10 weight Was 296 l-2 pounds aud
the average increase 10 weight per day
was | .92 pounds. The steers were sold
for An average of S37 Oh above the cost
Of production, the food being charged at
market prices instead Of farm prices.
Had the latter price been charged, the
profit would have appeared larger. The
conclusion from the experiment Is that
the method OF growing beef is applicable
to sversge farm conditions, and that
IL IL remuneratlve. The quality OF meat
msde was Of the best, and the farmer can
get much better values for the feedstuffs
he grows by using them In this way as
compared with what he could do by SELL
ing them directly.
The same station also reports an ex-
pertinent In fsttening range steers In
winter. Much difficulty Was experienced
on account OF the sullen temper and rest
less bearing OF part Of the steers when
ti-st put on feed. The difference In the
capacity Of the several animals to make
gains on the same ration was very great,
ranging from s of pound per day to
? 2l pounds per day. The difference
In the ability Of the animals 10 give
profitable returns for food was also en-
phssized. One of the range steers made
an increase Of 100 pounds st an average
cost Of 81 so, while in another IL cost
as % to makes similar increase. The
steers chosen for the experiment were
two wears old, but varied considerable 10
age and in size. The breeding showed
Shorthorn, Hereford and Aberdeen
Angus blood. The lot made q small
profit to the feeder. but its results show
that while good type Is one guaranty OF
the good feeder II alone does not furnish
any certain test. In other words, one
can not Judge OF what range steer Will
do BY the eve. IL was also proved that
I, Is vain TO sttemp, to force gains by ex-
cessive grain feeding TO animals not hAv-
ing the beef making quality which rem
ders them responsive 10 feed.