Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1906-09-28
BREEDING FOR THE BLOCK.
Farmer Must Distinguish Between the
Beef and Dairy Types.

eitner cattle or sheep for the block
must not ignore the distinction be.
tween the beef-making types of cattle
and the dairy type, or the best typs
ci mutton-producing sheep. He car.
NOT anord to be ignorant on these
points They are of vital Importance
ana determine profit or loss.
economy Of production must be I'm.
derstood. and the successful stock
owner must breed with this end in
lew' OF making a certain amount OF
1000 produce the largest possible
amount OF gain, and such gain be rele-
gated 70 the parts desired to be fin.
iSned according to the market re.
quirements. The prime beef type calls
ior short limbs. but a broad. straight
pack well-sprung ribs, broad chest
etc., and the broad back and ribs must
% we'll covered with flesh and an
even distribution of fat. The heavy
nordinately fat animal has been driv.
Gu out OF market by the demand for
one OF different type. Another point
IN favor OF the distinctly beef.produc.
ing oreeds'as bred for the market il
the TACT that the beef of such animals
is always superior to that of animals
OF distinctly dairy type. In our grand.
fathers days the excessively fat steer
or COW, etc., was the one which
topped the market" avoirdupois be-.
Ing the end generally sought theH-it
was tallow versus beef-those were
the days OF tallow candles. Other
means Of illumination and fabrication
nave been since discovered. and dis.
unctly fat or tallow-producing ami.
mails have been relegated to the back.
ground.
A point which also must receive
due attention, suggests the Country
Gentleman, is reference to the age Of
animals which are to be fed for mar.
ket' l. e., the block. The young and
growing animal fattens more easily
than when grown or fully matured Az
animals progress toward maturity. ths
gain Tor food consumed is much less
Inc young animal furnishes the most
pronta0le carcass, and there IL not a
superabundance Of fat where M,
wanted; this should receive attention
Early maturity of animals for market
may be accomplished by generous
ieedlng OF such cheap, coarse foods as
the farm produces, combined with
grain enough to give a suitable ration =.
the amount Of grain may be moderate.
except In the finishing up.
As an example Of the characteristics
OF beef and dairy types, take the Ter.
sey or Ayrshire and compare them
with the Hereford or Short.Horn
Ihose who are at all acquainted with
the former will admit that the lIttls
Jersey was never intended to be any.
thing except what she is, one of the
pest butter cows bred, a type of the
dairy animal. She is, as a rule, rough
angular and bony, and when fattened
does not develop along the lines ds.
manded by the market, but instead
accumulates fat around the internal
organs, while the prominent parts
back and hips, are scantily clothed
with flesh. The same may be said OF
the Ayrshire also.
AS to food, the Jersey NAV co,.
sumo the same quality as the Here.
ford, all things being equal, and the
gain in weight may be nearly tbs
same, but the Jersey does not Law on
nesn readily, and on such parts of her
anatomy as will bring the highest
prices. Tallow cannot compete against
loin and rib roasts. The Hereford ia
capable OF taking on flesh and fat in
the proportion required, and finishing
up to the point of highest excellence.