Warren sheaf. [volume] (Warren, Marshall County, Minn.) 1880-current, 1915-02-03
YPE IMPORT
IN BEEF CAT Tie.
Most Profitable Animals Give
Largest Gains at the
Smallest Cost.
BY HOWARD R. SMITH,
Division Of Dairy and Animal usbandry Minnesota Col.
Iege Of Agriculture.

BY HOWARD R. SMITH,
Division OF Dairy and Animal Husbandry Minnesota Col.
Iege Of Agriculture.
In fattening cattle for the largest
profits, quite as much depends on the
type and quality of the, animal as upon
the method of feeding. Some cattle
are by Inheritance slow to fatten and
in some instances slow to make gains
even under favorable conditions as to
food supply.
The most profitable type of q steer
for fattening purposes il one capable
Of producing the largest number Of
pounds OF the best quality Of beef in
tho shortest time and at the lowest
cost. Shorthorn, Hereford. Angus or
Galloway cattle are primarily adapted
for beef production. There IL, how
ever, great difference in the In
dividuals OF these breeds. Some come
from ancestors which have been care
fully selected and we'll cared for.
Others perhaps como from ancestry
less fortunate, though both may be Of
pure breeding. A profitable beef ami
NAL Is not necessarily one which has
been bred pure. There are, however,
more good types among pure bred cat
tie than among grades.
Qualities Of Importance.
The rapidity Of gains and the time
required for fattening are qualities of
special Importance to feeders. These
qualities are not confined to any one
breed. The writer has found in . Sc.
ries Of Investigations covering the
study of animal conformation from
birth to maturity that the size of mid.
die girth is more closely associated
with rate of gain than any other one
factor. It seems that the animal must
have depth and width of body to give
plenty of room for tho organs of di.
gestion so that a large quantity OF
feed can be consumed and properly
utilized by the animal. The size OF
heart girth is also an important fac
tor as it indicates to some extent con.
stitutton and vigor. This seems rea
sonable, in view of the fact that the
chest cavity contains the vital organs
heart and lungs AS digestion and as
similation depend largely upon the
blood circulation, it is obvious that
large gains depend quite largely up
on constitution and vigor.
Some cattle naturally fatten at an
early age while others require long
period of feeding. AS the price pei
pound depends almost entirely upon
finish or condition OF flesh, and ii
view of the fact that young animal.
! require less feed for the same gain
carly maturity is of great Importance
especially to the producer. The type
Of animal that ts capable Of fattenins
quickly Is one klilt close to tn,
ground. compact rather than rangy.
The Butchers Choice.
The type of animal which is ii
greatest favor from the standpoint o
the butcher Is one which will dress 1
high percentage of beef and will pro
duce 4 carcass that yields the maxi
mum proportion Of the high price<
cuts Of beef. Dressing percentage /.
largely matter Of fatness. though
type and breeding have some infiu
ence. The carcass that produces tn,
largest proportion Of high priced
loin, rib, rump and round is on<
which comes from an animal havini
extreme width and thickness of fesl
from the shoulders back to the tai
head and having also width and thick
ness Of hind quarters. Width of bacl
and loin, and thickness of covering IL
that region, is of great Importance.
In purchasing thin steers for feed
ing, it is not always possible to tel
how wide the animal will be whel
finished. The bony frame work, how
ever, Is the same whether lean or fat
In purchasing such steers, the heat
is good index, as width between tn,
eyes and not too much length is usual
ly associated with width and compact
ness Of body. In selecting such cat
tie, much emphasis should also b,
given to depth of chest and depth o
body. The appearance Of the coat o
hair is of some Importance Is the gen
eral thrift Of the animal can often b,
determined by them
Circumstances Alter Cases.
While an animal such as has beer
described Is capable Of yielding TIL.
largest profits to the producer ant
while 1t is of Importance to thu
breeder to choose sires that will pro