BABY BEEF PRODUCTION.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXIX, Issue 3264, 8 July 1911, Page 3

BABY BEEF PRODUCTION.

IN THE UNITED STATES

Experiments -extending over tliree years have been carried out to test the results obtained from rearing calves from birth until about eighteen months old, when they -were sold for beef, says the Board of Agriculture Journal. Two methods when compared, the calves being suckled by their dams in one case, and in the other weaned at birth and reared by hand. A herd of twenty average cows of the Shorthorn type were purchased for the purpose. They were in calf to Shorthorn bulls, so that the first lot of calves may be considered Shorthorns. In the following year they were sired by a pure-bred Hereford bull., and iri the tliid year by a pure-bred AberdeenAngus. The twenty cows were divided into two lots. The calves of lot I were allowed to run with their dams for three or four days, after which they were allowed to suckle twice daily. As soon as they could be induced to eat they were given grain, roots, and bay, and were weaned at eight or nine months, when the cows were practically dry. The cows were pastured during tlie summer, but tlie calves were kept in the yards, as no pasture was available for them. Tlie calves of lot 2 were reared on whole milk fiom tlie pail for four or five weeks, and then on skim milk with grain and hay. At eight months the skim milk was discontinued, and the feeding of both lots was then identical. excejit that the quantities were varied in individual instances.

In the ’first year the- average weight of the -calves which were suckled by tlieir dams was, at eighteen months, 937 tbs, while the weight of the calves of lot 2, which, were fed from the pail, was 9181bs.

In the second year the average weights were respectively lOlGlbs and 9821-bs, and l in the third year, 10321bs and 9991b5.

The result of the experiment over tlie three years appears to show that there is no great difference between the two methods as regards the quality of the beef produced. The skim milk fed lots are stated to have been of quite as good quality as the suckled lots, and the average weight over the three yeans was 9661b5, as compared with the 995 lbs, of the suckled calves. The lots were sold at the same time and fetched the same l price -per cwt. The calves raised on skim milk cost substantially less than the others, in addition to which allowance must he made for the fact that the cows .suckling their calves- gave no other return during the season.