The Delta independent., 1923-03-09
THE GENERAL TREND
IN BEEF PRODUCTION

sugar factory there are lot of steers
on feed. Some of these, judged from
size and general appearance must be
from four to six years old and it is a
pretty safe bet that they have lost
someone money every year since they
were two-year-olds, and perhaps long
er than that.
The Field Secretary of the Ameri-
can Shorthorn Breeders Association
says that last year there was a de-
mand among cattle feeders of the corn
belt for 1000 head Of good calves Of
Shorthorn blood, that could not be
filled. Suppose Montrose and Delta
counties could supply this demand
premium and with their baby fat
would bring the producer within few
dollars Of as much per head as they'd
bring him as yearlings, at very much
lower cost.
The idea of marketing beef as
weaners instead of two-year-olds is
appealing to some of our most pro-
gressive cattlemen who say that the
general trend has ben in that direc-
| sAOA Aci ooAiC tAhhS' ~ a
er turnover with higher and safer
margin of profit, 1t means lower costs,
lower freight and reduced losses; it
means more animals to market each
year as range and feed now consumed
| by yearlings and two-year-old steers
can be given to cows; 1t means a
larger percentage of calves from hav-
ing no steers on the range with the
COW herds, and that the cows will do
better on the range; it means skim
ming the cream and getting the easy
profit because while there may be
some profit left in a steer from the
weaner to the grass-beef stage, the
margin of profit is far lower. The fol-
lowing figures show the amounts of
alfalfa hay required to make 100 lbs.
gain on the same steers as weaners,
as yearlings and as two-year-olds, a
rather striking example of the relative
efficiency of steers at different ages: :
Age of Steers Alfalfa eaten per
100 lbs gain
caves ,39l.18 lbs.
Yearlings ,949 so lbs.
Two-year-olds --3,198.56 lbs.
1hC DCcl hcL ID duOlueT TGdSOH
for the earlier selling of his crop by
the beef raiser The demand for baby
beef is increasing over that for older
beef Just as the demand for lamb out.
grew and nearly destroyed the de-
mand for mutton which explains why
the feeder demand is becoming 80
strong for weaners and short year.
lings. And, last but not least, the
markets are beginning to discriminate
more and more against grass-fat beef
A. =. de Ricqles Of Denver, we'll
known to Western Slope Cattlemen,
says, 1--WE can't help but conclude
that the days of big consignments of
range cattle are rapidly drawing to a
close. The people will endeavor to
produce an animal that will sell at a
younger age on which the competi-
tion is greater.
Naturally any industry is lost II
what 1t produces is out OF fashion, and
we wonder II the rangers are going
into the discard.
There is no better place in the
United States to produce these calves
OF either Shorthorn or Hereford blood
than on the ranges Of Western Colora-
do, and there is noe place where long
freight hauls and high freight rates
argue more strongly for any market
ing plan that will lower the proper.
tion OF the shipping costs to the value
Of the commodity to be shipped.
Someone will supply that demand
OF the feeders Of baby beef Who will
1t be?
II A Iraland