Wausau pilot. [volume] (Wausau, Wis.) 1896-1940, 1915-09-07
prepared by the United States Depart
rnRnt Of Aoricl11t11raN

Baby beef has within the past few
years attained popular position with
the consumer of beef, and taking the
present feed lot and market conditions
as a criterion, it would appear that its
popularity will be sustained in the fu-
ture. The consuming public is de-
handing more small cuts of high-qual-
lty beef and certain changes in the
production of beef have been brought
about by the increased cost of grow
ing it. No class of beef more fulfills
the requirements of both producer and
consumer than does baby beef
Conditions on the ranges have great
ly changed. Years ago cattle were
kept until to years of age, but bet
ter bulls and consequent general i'm
provement in quality and maturing
ability in market cattle, together with
heavier grain feeding, has made it
possible to put just as much beef on
the market at from Is to 20 months
of age.
The average age at which baby
beer is put on the market at the pres
ent time is probably between IA and
16 months, and feeders seem to think
that in time with improvements in
breeding herds and feed-lot methods
the same weight of carcass, with more
quality, may be put on the market at
even an earlier age.
Top prices and prices that will pay
for the cost of production are given
for little" cattle when they carry
prime" finish. To put this finish on
this type of cattle requires experience
and skill. At present commission men
complain - many would-be baby
heeves being shipped to market in
habitat condition. Markets pay a
premium for the extra finish, but half
fat yearlings are marketable only at a
discount. An axiom in stockyards is
Few feeders are able to turn out a
fat yearnng."
Five Arguments for Baby Beef.
The following are advantages men
toned by feeders of experience as rea-
sons why they favor finishing their
cattle as baby beef:
First-The younger cattle make
more gains on the same amount OF
feed than do the cattle with more age
To get such gains, however, it is nee
essary that the calves be pushed
from the time they are dropped. In
addition to the milk the calf gets
from its dam, it should be given a
grain ration just as soon as it will be-
gin to eat. AS expressed by one feed
er, 'The calf should be fed so that it
will never know when it is weaned.'
Second-The money invested in cat
lie is turned faster. Under old range
conditions money invested in cattle
was realized upon only once in from
three to five years. By feeding out
turned in Is months.
Thirdly feeding as yearlings the
herd to be maintained on the farm is
smaller, and pasture, forage, grain,
ETC., which were once used for year
lings and two and three-year-olds can
now be used to increase the number
of COWS kept.
Fourth-Open heifers find just as
ready market as the steers. This is
true in no case after the time the heif-
ers have passed the two-year-old
stage. Yearling heifers finish out even
more rapidly than do the steers, and
marketing them at this age is big
advantage since there is no other time
in their lives when markets will treat
them as favorably.
Fifth-The baby beef market at the
present time is the most stable of ali
the cattle markets. Baby beef has,
during the past few years. had a mar
ket all its own, and probably in most
cases regardless of other cattle mar
ket conditions. Baby beeves will not
take on as high a degree of finish as
will two-year-old cattle, but neverthe'
less the yearlings with somewhat less
finish have usually sold at a higher
figure than two-year-olds.
During the past few years the
Christmas market has been very favor
able toward all cattle with quality and
prime finish, quite a proportion OF
which are baby beef. Most of the
baby beef goes on the market during
the months of May, June and July.
The market at this time is generally
good, and in fact generally stays good
throughout the summer, for during
the middle and late summer months
few prime cattle are for sale. Most
of the cattle offered are habitat year.
lings
In feeding for the December market
fall-born calves are generally used
The following schedule may be used
with baby beeves intended for the
December market: Have the calves
dropped in September and October
Begin giving them light grain ration
in addition to their dams milk. al
about two months of age, or about
November 1. Wean them during April
and May, or as late as possible. SO
that they can be turned directly upon
grass. At weaving time begin increas
ing their grain ration until oy the
middle of July or August 1, they are
getting about all the grain they will
take. Keep them on heavy grain feed
until pastures begin to diminish, and
then add silage with clover or alfalfa
either one or both. to the ration. They
should be ready to market from the
middle of November to the middle OF
December.
Spring born calves are of a more
suitable age for finishing for late
spring or early summer markets. II
these calves are born in March OF
April. they should begin TO take a lit
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