Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1902-04-28
THE BREED NOT FEED.
Old Theory That Feed Makes Be
DispelIed by Missouri Experinnent

Old Theory That Feed Makes Beef
Dispelled by Missouri Experiment.
The monthly bulletin, issued by the
Missouri state board of agriculture, is
devoted to discussing beef cattle.
which, in view of the present rise in
meat prices, is timely and of speciat
Importance. Recent experiments in
Missouri, Illinois and Iowa have de-
stroyed many time honored theories
about beef cattle and the methods of
feeding. The old idea that profitable
prices depend more upon feed than up
on breed is secuted in the bulletin lust
issued, the statements in which are
backed up by tables giving the facts
and figures obtained from recent ex-
periments.
In discussing high quality from high
breeding the report says: mo PROPOSE
ton in the whole realm of live stock
husbandry has been more definitely
demonstrated than that high quality
comes from feeding well-bred animals.
1t is true that, among beef cattle, some
are capable of consuming a certain
amount of food and producing there
from a fine quality of flesh that sells
readily for cents, live weight, while
other cattle. fed on the same food un
der same conditions, are slow sale at
4 cents per pound
The figures quoted were the prices
previous to the recent rise, but serve
just as well as an illustration of the
new theory. The report goes on to
say This great difference is not due
primarily to the feeding, but to the
breeding of the animal. AT the Iowa
experiment station cattle of various
breeds We're fed for nine months. The
gains made were approximately the
same, and the food required to produce
a given gain was equal with all breeds
But when these cattle were offered for
sale in the Chicago yards, the strictly
beef-bred animals brought s2.22s per
hundred more than others not specific
ally bred for their beef qualities. The
shorthorn. Aberdene, Angus and Hece-
ford easily brought the highest prices
of the day, while the Jerseys and Hol-
stems were sold for scarcely enough to
pay for their feeding and shipping. We
hear it frequently stated that pure
bred animals are more profitable be-
cause they are able to produce more
gain from given amount of food. The
statement can not be substantiated.
The experiments all point to the fact
that the well-bred animals are more
profitable because they produce much
more valuable product, and not be-
cause they are able to produce a great
er bulk on the same amount of food"
The report contains many sugges-
tions. not only to the cattle breeder
but to the beef buyer. The forsler
class are advised, If they live in the
corn belt" to be liberal with their
feed, as the profits will repay the out
lay. Cheap feed mixed with suitable
grain ration may be used, especially
when the object is to produce early ma
turity, but during the fattening time.
food OF the best quality should NOT be
spared.
To the beef buyer, the report says:
100 much care can not be exercised
in the purchase of feeding cattle. BE
sure that they have the typical beer
form. and have not coarse bones, long
legs or harsh, papery skin, and by all
means do not buy an animal that has
been half starved when young, as such
an animal is for many reasons undesir-
able. No matter how we'll bred an AMI
NAL Is he Will never amount to any
thing If raised starveling.'
The experiments have proved that
heavy steers are no longer so pro11ta-
BILE, as they do not bring as much on
the market as the lighter weights, ran
cling from 1900 to $500 pounds.