Morris tribune., 1915-01-29
TYPE IMPORTANT
IN BEEF CATTLE
Most Profitable Animals Give
Largest Gains at the
Smallest Cost.
BY HOWARD z. SMITH,
Division Of Dairy and Animal Husbandry Minnesota Col.
lege of Agriculture.

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 NJ e gains
even under favorable conditions as to
food supply.
The most profitable type of steer
for fattening purposes is one capable
of producing the largest number OF
pounds of the best quality of BE- eff in
the shortest time and at the lowest
cost. Shorthorn, Hereford, as or
Galloway cattle are primari' adapted
for beef production. There is, low
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 come 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 a 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 the organs of di-
! gestion so that a large quantity Of
feed can be consumed and properly
heart girth is also an important fac
J tor as it indicates to some extent con-
stitution 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 per
pound depends almost entirely upon
finish or condition of flesh, and in
view of the fact that young animals
require less feed for the same gain.
early maturity Is of great importance
especially to the producer. The type
of animal that is capable of fattening
quickly is one built close to the
ground, compact rather than rangy
The Butchers Choice.
The type of animal which is in
greatest favor from the standpoint Of
the butcher is one which will dress a
high percentage of beef and will pro
duce a carcass that yields the maxi
mum proportion of the high priced
cuts of beef Dressing percentage is
largely a matter of fairness, though
type and breeding have some infiu
ence The carcass that produces the
VI A1S1 PAASOS
loin, rib, rump and round Is one
which comes from an animal having
extreme width and thickness of flesh
from the shoulders back to the tai
head and having also width and thick
ness of hind quarters. Width of bach
and loin, and thickness of covering II
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 wher
finished The bony frame work, how
ever, is the same whether lean or fat
In purchasing such steers, the heal
is good index, as width between tht
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 as the gen
/. eral thrift of the animal can often b.
J determined by them.
Circumstances Alter Cases.
While an animal such as has beer
described is capable of yielding tn
largest profits to the producer AM
while it i~ of Importance to tn
: breeder to choose sires that will pre-
= duce steers approaching this type,
sometimes happens that the man VIII
feeds but does not breed his own cat
tie, is justified in purchasing less de
sirable types at the market if the,
can be had at price far enough be
e low good cattle to make 1t wortl
2 while. The feeder-buyer should ain
to purchase cattle that are likely tt
prove most profitable in his feed lot
The loser is the one who breeds in
ferior types.
:. Some dairy bred steers seem t
make quite as large gains as steer
. of beef breeding. This seems to b.
true of many Craze Holstein steer
Jersey and Guernsey steers are natui
ally smaller and do not make as larg
gains nxcent during early in life