The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1903-05-09
RAISE BETTER BEEF
Advice to Cattle Men Who Want to
See More Money in the
Business. s
An Illustration Of the Part Feed
Plays in the Finishing
Of Steers.
Chicago Drcvers, Journal.

CnlCaEO DrOvers journal. I
P',le bred bulls of the three four leading
beef breeds having decided effect upon
the steers that are being marketed, compared
with what they were few years ago. The
Drovers' Journal has called the attention OF it's
readers to the change for the better that stock
men have been able to note in this market The
lank, lean. raw boned steer is disappearing.
Never is such an animal seen in the frst-class
pens that sell for high prices. The typical beef
steers has left that type far in the background.
and time passes it will still Iurther recede
until it becomes known only in the least progress.
i've sections.
The raiser and feeder Of beef cattle is looking
to the animal that will return to him the great
est profit for the feed and labor expended. In
the steer carrying liberal quantity of pure-bred
blood OF some recognized beef breed, he finds
the animal that serves his purpose. Such steer
requires no more feed, time and labor to pro.
duce and returns greater profit to the farmer.
We are not satisfied but that the feed necessary
FOR finish is less. Certain it is that the time,
and also the labor Is being very much reduced by
the Introduction of better blood. due to the early
maturity of the purebred animal. This in itself
is strong factor that Is popularizing the pure
bred bull among those who interested in rails
ing steers to feed for market
The high grade or pure bred steer possesses
a certain smoothness of form, which, together
with marked tendency to put on flesh. makes
him a much more economical feeder than the
| nondescript The difference illustrated very
we'll by Alex G. Arnold of Galesville, Wis. in
| his address on beef cattle before the Wisconsin
| state farmers institute, when he said:
| In 21a years there are in round numbers
| 900 days A steer will do without grain one
| third of the whole time Of his life or 300 days.
| the balance of this time, or 600 days, If fed on
an average of six pounds of grain per day. he
should be kept growing and well finished. Call
| feed worth three-fourths Of cent per pound
and this ill be worth S24: hay and grass for
900 days at Be per day, $27; call the calf worth
| So, which gives total cost at PA years Of age
| sos.
| Call this steer at moderate weight of 1 800
lbs and if sold for &c he would bring SIS profit
| over and above feed Of $22. If sold for &c a
pound he would bring S65. and profit of 50. If
| sold for 4c he would bring s52, and loss of 81.
If sold for Sc he would bring $50 and loss of
SIT. If sold for &c he would bring $26 and a
| loss of 500
POOR STEERS DISCOURAGE FEEDERS.
| Not only is the poor steer Improbable to the
regular feeders, but he has tendency to disgust
| many feeders with the beef raising industry. Mr..
Arnold calls attention to this follows: .r.
| I'm the last case if he has eaten any grain
it is all or nearly ALL lost, and this must be ex-
pecred of Ill bred and illfed steers and the farm
er believes 1t doesn't pay feed cattle. 1t does
not even pay for the feed. The farmer has his
| fodder worked into available manure; he has each
| year one more ring his cattles horns, and
| all the fun he can get out Of that kind Of man
| agement. He doesn't like the fun, so he spends
his time hauling off the fertility Of his farm and
selling it in the half bushel. Loss is always in
| proportion to the lack of quality in the produce
| and this maintains in all products.
| az have object lesson In my yard. I have
| quite good SCRUB steer that has had the same
| chance as the grade ShOrthorns, and there is a
difference III weight of 300 lbs, and difference
| in value of &c Ier pound that I have lost
| (say that my grades worth SIC per pound
| today in weight and lack Of quality S26 this
| one steer, which has taken just. as much room
| and equal amount OF care and has not enriched
my farm any more than grade. 1 $26.5C
out by the experiment"
| Coupled with any sort of live stock feeding
there is also q factor other than good animals
to fit. The factor is the feed itself. A mar
must be eralhearted enough and big enough
to supply the animal with all that it handle
Danger Of stallng must be avoided, but still the
steer must have regularly all that he ea
economically. good feeder will handle suit
| able amount of feed prohtaby because he get
| all there is in it, compared with the inferior
animal that Is seriously deficient In his feed
ing powers that grain and roughage may be con
sumed at loss ''.
measure exaggerated, but there is comparison
between the various grades that Is valuable
The feeder who has handled both extremes Of tn
cattle feeding business realizes the difference be
tween the two types more thoroly than the ma
who has handled none but the inferior.
From the comparatively low prices at whic
pure bred bulls of the leading beef breeds hav
been selling during the past few months, there
no reason why the farmer should not take advar
- tage of some of the many offerings and secure
god stock animals to head his herd to get be
| ter type of steers, that will show a better gal
in the feed yard and more remunerative return
when sent to market.