UC-NRLF 
 
 B 3 
 
GIFT OF 
 
 AQRiC. 
 IIBRARY 
 
DEC 9 1914 
 
 HOLSTEINS AS 
 BEEF CATTLE 
 
 UNIVERSITY 
 
 ORM1& "x 
 
 BY HAROLD McAi.isTER 
 
 rt 
 CHINO, CALIFORNIA 
 

 f ,# 
 
 
 
Holsteins as Beef Cattle 
 
 (By HAROLD MCALISTER, Chino, Cal.) 
 
 THERE is a wide and ever increasing demand among the farmers 
 in America for a good profitable dual purpose breed of cattle. 
 The price of feed has become so high that the farmer can no longer 
 afford to keep a cow that gives but enough milk to raise its calf for 
 beef purposes, for in that case the calf has to show a profit, not only 
 above the cost of its own keep but above the cost of its dam's keep 
 also. If, on the other hand, instead of being a heavy expense, a 
 cow can produce enough milk to properly raise its calf and to show 
 a substantial profit for butterfat besides, it will be seen that the 
 profits from beef production can be very greatly increased. 
 
 Practical experience and demonstrations by many different 
 State Experiment Stations have proven two facts : first, that on the 
 arable farm the dual purpose cow is more profitable than the 
 specialized beef type; and, second, that the Holstein is the most 
 profitable dual purpose cow. 
 
 The first fact is proven by the tests conducted by the Michigan 
 Experiment Station, in which it was shown that the dual purpose 
 steer averaged $41.27 more net profit per head than the beef type 
 of steer. In Bulletin No. 261 it is stated that the dual purpose or 
 "skim milk fed lot of baby beeves showed as good a condition of 
 flesh and quality as the suckled lots and were nearly equal in 
 weight," and that "baby beef production by the skim milk method 
 is much cheaper and gives better results than by suckling methods." 
 
 The Iowa Experiment Station states in Bulletin No. 48, after 
 extended experiments, that "a system whereby dairying and meat 
 making may be combined is most promising in its profits. It is 
 not only possible to combine these qualities to a profitable degree, 
 but also to perpetuate them, if the herd is bred especially for them. 
 The feeding of range steers, at present prices, does not permit of 
 securing much profit, in comparison with the returns that may be 
 secured from the products of a herd bred for the special purpose of 
 meeting conditions of a combination of dairying and beef making. 
 Not only do steers from cows bred with this combination in view 
 yield as much profit as those from the range, but returns from the 
 cows, when used for dairy purposes, make the combination much 
 more remunerative." 
 
 As it has been proven by actual tests that it costs $32.32 a year 
 to keep a beef cow solely to have a calf, while a Holstein cow will 
 earn $73.33 net profit in the same length of time, a beef steer has to 
 start out in life with a handicap of over $105 against him, which the 
 Holstein steer has to its credit at birth. 
 
 In the past the dual purpose question has been discussed from 
 the standpoint of whether the Shorthorn or other beef breeds 
 
 295828 
 
are profitable for milk production, with a result, generally, to the 
 discredit of the dual purpose type, and, on the other hand, the fact 
 has been apparently overlooked that the Holstein is a most profit- 
 able breed for beef. 
 
 According to the results of the tests reported in the Michigan 
 Experiment Station Bulletin No. 257, the Holsteins make much 
 larger daily gains and at a less cost per pound than any of the 
 leading beef breeds. In the first test, seven Holstein calves 
 averaged 714 Ibs. apiece at one year of age, at a cost of $3.76 per 
 cwt., and two Shorthorn calves averaged 571 Ibs. at a cost of $4.82 
 per cwt. In the second test, six Holstein calves averaged 773 
 Ibs. at a cost of $3.97 per cwt., and six Shorthorns averaged 706.1 
 Ibs. at a cost of $5.16 per cwt. Another group of ten Shorthorns 
 averaged 643 Ibs. at a cost of $4.32 per cwt., a group of ten Angus 
 averaged 682 Ibs. at a cost of $4.97 per cwt., and a group of ten 
 Herefords averaged 629 Ibs. at a cost of $4.20 per cwt. 
 
 The Iowa Experiment Station reports, in Bulletin No. 81, a test 
 with the following results : 
 
 Hereford Angus Holstein Jersey 
 
 Weight at beginning, 683 685 526 622 
 
 Average gain per steer, 644 . 568 677 518 
 
 Amount of Grain per Ib. gain, 8.76 9.18 8.21 9.24 
 
 Amount of Roughage per Ib. gain, 3.71 4.13 3.59 4.35 
 
 Average cost per Ib. gain, $.076 $.0802 $.0712 $.0812 
 
 Per cent of dressed weight , 60.8 62.8 58.9 55.4 
 
 Per cent of Loin, 17.59 17.56 17.59 16.58 
 
 Tallow, Ibs., 88. 64.5 56.2 113.2 
 
 The Holstein thus made a larger average gain per steer and at a 
 less cost per pound of either roughage or grain than any of the 
 other breeds. The percentage of dressed weight was 3j^ per cent 
 above that of the Jersey and less than 3 per cent below the average 
 of the two beef breeds, but the Holstein ranked ahead in respect 
 to the percentage of loin, the highest priced beef cut. The 
 Holstein also produced the smallest percentage of tallow, showing 
 that the breed does not carry an excess of cheap fat, which is 
 characteristic of scrub steers. The Holstein steers made an 
 average of $14.87 net profit to the wholesaler, while the Angus 
 averaged but $9.25 and the Hereford but $5.13 net profit. This 
 wonderful showing by the Holstein steers was made in spite of the 
 fact that the steers chosen were not fair representatives of that 
 breed and that they were fed for too long a period, in the case of 
 dairy steers. 
 
 The Station states that "Kidney fat is a cheap product and, 
 while it counts in dressing per cent, it only serves to reduce the 
 value of the carcass, where it is present in excess. Reference to 
 the tables show that No. 3, a Jersey, possessed 21 Ibs. of this cheap 
 product, while No. 7, an Angus, had but 11.5. Ibs., despite his 
 greater weight. This confirms the contention often made that 
 steers of dairy type carry an unnecessary amount of waste fat." 
 
Glancing over the figures, however, we find that the Holstein steers 
 possessed only 15 Ibs., the Angus 23.5 Ibs., the Hereford 28.5 Ibs., 
 and the Jersey 37.5 Ibs. of this product, showing that this sweeping 
 conclusion as to steers of dairy type is absolutely fallacious in the 
 instance of the Holstein steers. 
 
 The Ohio State Experiment Station, in Bulletin No. 60, reports 
 a test in which the Holsteins made larger gains and at a less cost 
 per pound than the Shorthorns : 
 
 Oain in 120 days Cost per Ib. gain 
 
 5 Holsteins 255 $7.67 
 
 23 Shorthorns 241 7.94 
 
 The Nebraska Experiment Station has probably made the most 
 exhaustive and conclusive beef tests that have ever been made. 
 Forty-eight calves representing the different breeds were put 
 through two extended tests. In the first test, the Holsteins 
 averaged $3.68 profit per head, the Shorthorns, $2.07, the Here- 
 fords, $1.61, the Angus, $1.34, the Guernseys, 21c, the Jerseys, 
 63c, and the Red Polls, 21c. In the second test, the Holsteins 
 averaged $4.14 profit per head, the Shorthorns, $3.28, the Angus, 
 80c, and the Guernseys, 76c; the Red Polls lost 97c, and the 
 Jerseys lost $2.14. The Holstein Steer No. 19 made $16.61 net 
 profit, or more than any other steer in these two tests. The 
 heaviest Holstein weighed 1,082 Ibs. at the end of the test, the 
 heaviest Hereford, 1,040 Ibs., the heaviest Shorthorn, 1,032 Ibs., 
 the heaviest Angus, 925 Ibs., the heaviest Guernsey, 950 Ibs., the 
 heaviest Red Poll, 920 Ibs., and the heaviest Jersey, 920 Ibs. The 
 following is the average of both tests : 
 
 Av. daily gain Cost per 100 Ibs. gain Profit per steer 
 5 Holsteins 1.86 Ibs. $6.61 $7.82 
 
 24 Shorthorns 1.58 Ibs. 7.59 3.28 
 2 Angus 1.59 Ibs. 7.72 2.14 
 8 Herefords 1.56 Ibs. 8.06 2.09 
 
 2 Guernseys 1.59 Ibs. 7.71 .97 
 4 Red Polls 1.48 Ibs. 7.86 Loss .76 
 
 3 Jerseys 1.56 Ibs. 9.83 1.51 
 
 The Holsteins thus made larger daily gains at a far less cost per 
 100 Ibs. gain, and averaged over twice as much net profit per steer 
 as any other breed. 
 
 In an additional six weeks' test, the Holsteins' total net profit 
 amounted to $13.82 per head, the Herefords' to $11.92, and the 
 Shorthorns' to $11.69. The quality of the Holstein beef at the 
 end of the second test proved to be practically as good as that of 
 the beef breeds, averaging $5.75 per cwt., while the Shorthorns 
 averaged $5.98 and the Herefords, $6.12. The difference in the 
 quality of the meat of the two types is so slight that the Holstein 
 faculty of making gains at a so much less cost per pound makes it 
 the most profitable breed for beef. 
 
 [5] 
 
The Nebraska Station states, in Bulletin No. 132, that the 
 Holstein "gains are very satisfactory and these steers can be fed 
 with profit, especially when crossed with one of the beef breeds. 
 The principal objection to the Holsteins for production of beef is 
 the fact that they are very slow to fatten and must be kept in the 
 feed lot for a longer time than is ordinarily needed by beef breeds." 
 This, however, could not be a very serious objection to Holsteins 
 for beef, for according to Nebraska's own experiments, only 60 per 
 cent of the Holsteins had to be kept over an extra six weeks in order 
 to have them sufficiently fat for market, while 66f per cent of 
 the total lot had to be kept over. 
 
 In another experiment by the Nebraska Station the Holsteins 
 again proved their superiority : 
 
 Av. daily gain Cost per cwt. 
 3 Holsteins 2.05 Ibs. $4.22 
 
 2 Herefords 1.86 Ibs. 4.99 
 14 Shorthorns 1.92 Ibs. 5.62 
 
 1 Galloway 2.41 Ibs. 5.67 
 
 1 Ayrshire 2.28 Ibs. 6.06 
 
 1 Dutch Belted 1.72 Ibs. 6.29 
 
 3 Angus 1.22 Ibs. 7.46 
 1 Jersey 1.64 Ibs. 7.91 
 
 The Iowa Station reports, in Bulletin No. 14, the following 
 results of a test between Holstein and Shorthorn calves : 
 
 Av. daily gain Cost per Ib. gain 
 
 Holstein 2.22 Ibs. $.057 
 
 Shorthorn 1.86 Ibs. .070 
 
 At the Michigan Experiment Station the Holstein breed made 
 gains, for a year, at a less cost per pound than any other breed 
 under similar conditions, as here shown : 
 
 Av. wt. at 1 yr. Av. daily gain Cost per Ib. gain 
 
 Holstein 876 Ibs. 2.40 Ibs. $.014 
 
 Shorthorn 777 Ibs. 2.13 Ibs. .016 
 
 Galloway 783 Ibs. 2.14 Ibs. .019 
 
 Jersey 569 Ibs. 1.55 Ibs. .023 
 
 Devon 521 Ibs. 1.43 Ibs. .025 
 
 At the Ontario Experiment Station, the Holstein gained up to 
 two years 1.79 Ibs. daily, the Devon, 1.78 Ibs., the Hereford, 1.71 
 Ibs., and the Aberdeen Poll, 1.55 Ibs. 
 
 In the Iowa Experiment Bulletin No. 20, it is reported that three 
 Holstein calves gained 691 Ibs. apiece in a test, the highest 
 gain being 90t Ibs., while three Shorthorn calves gained 63^ 
 Ibs. in the same length of time, the highest gain being 67s Ibs. 
 
 At the American Fat Show in 1886, the Holsteins averaged 
 2,127 Ibs. weight, at an average gain of 1.68 Ibs. daily, the Short- 
 horns averaged 1,934 Ibs., at a gain of 1.54 Ibs. daily, and the 
 
Herefords averaged 1,958 Ibs. weight, at a gain of 1.52 Ibs. daily. 
 The Holstein was also the only breed to have the hind quarters 
 heavier than the front, as shown by the following figures : 
 
 Hereford Hind quarters lighter than the front by 52 Ibs. or 10 % 
 
 Shorthorn Hind quarters lighter than the front by 71 Ibs. or 11^% 
 
 Angus Hind quarters lighter than the front by 70 Ibs. or 11 % 
 
 Holstein Hind quarters heavier than the front by 9 Ibs. or + 
 
 In the two-year-old class at the American Fat Show in 1885, the 
 Holstein averaged 1,920 Ibs., the Shorthorn, 1,756 Ibs., and the 
 Hereford, 1,779 Ibs. The Holstein also had a larger percentage 
 of weight in the hind quarters than any of the beef breeds. At 
 the Fat Show in 1888, again the Holstein was the only breed to 
 have its hind quarters heavier than the front. Thus it will be seen 
 that the Holstein has a higher percentage of weight in the hind 
 quarters than any other breed, a very important fact, as the 
 highest priced cuts are in the hind quarters. 
 
 That the ideal beef and milk form may be found in the highest 
 degree in the same breed is shown by the numerous prizes won by 
 Holsteins at the different fat shows. At the New York State 
 Fairs of 1889 and 1890, a Holstein cow won first prize as the best 
 fat cow of any age or breed. Her live weight was 1,790 Ibs., and 
 her percentage of dressed weight when thoroughly cooled was 
 66.8 per cent or 1,196 Ibs., a percentage very seldom equaled by 
 individuals of the beef breeds. 
 
 In 1896, against very strong competition from the leading beef 
 breeds, a Holstein cow weighing almost 2,000 Ibs. won first prize 
 as the best beef cow of any breed at the Minnesota State Fair. 
 
 Summarizing the results of these and other tests the result con- 
 clusively proves that, contrary to the general belief, large and 
 profitable beef and milk production are correlated to an astonishing 
 degree. In the Holstein breed, as a rule, the greater the milk 
 producing qualities, the more perfect the work of assimilation and 
 digestion, the larger and the more economical the gain of body 
 weight when dry, the stronger the constitution, and the more 
 regular the breeding, all of which qualities also tend to make beef 
 production more profitable. A Holstein steer inherits from its 
 dam a capacity for assimilating a quantity of feed that would make 
 the average beef steer sweat merely to look at. According to the 
 Wisconsin Dairy Competition, an average Holstein cow will con- 
 sume enough feed above her own maintenance to produce 1,758.1 
 Ibs. of milk solids in a year, or over three times as much as an 
 average beef steer willfgain in body weight, in the same length of 
 time. 
 
 While a Holstein steer is without doubt the most economical 
 producer of dressed beef, yet it is true that the profitableness 
 of that breed for beef is subject to some limitations. Owing to 
 their relatively heavy body, their limbs are too light to make them 
 as well fitted for the range as some other breeds. The fact is 
 
 m 
 
that, while up to about 18 or 20 months of age a Holstein steer 
 will have approximately the same conformation and quality as a 
 beef steer, yet after that age he begins to partake more of the form 
 of a dairy steer and also to lose some of his former smoothness, so 
 that these steers are not relatively as profitable when sold as two- 
 or three-year-olds as when fattened up to sell as baby beef. 
 
 Holstein beef possesses the desired pale red color and is very 
 well marbled, although it does not generally have so much fat as is 
 exhibited by a beef steer. According to such authorities as Prof. 
 I. P. Roberts and others who have tested the qualities of both 
 meats, Holstein beef has a superior flavor to that of the Shorthorn. 
 
 One of the most important if not the chief factor in cattle 
 raising is that of prolificacy. In this respect the Holstein cow is 
 much superior to any of the beef breeds, as she is easier to get into 
 calf, due to her thinner condition, caused by her heavy milking 
 qualities, and to the fact that the breeding qualities of the Holstein 
 have not been impaired, as the breed has not been so highly inbred, 
 or subjected to excessive show-ring fitting and other artificial con- 
 ditions, as have the beef breeds. 
 
 Summarizing all of the results therefore, the fact is clearly 
 proven that the dual purpose breed is a most lucrative type, and 
 that the theory that beef and milk production cannot be profitably 
 combined in the same breed is most erroneous and unreliable. 
 
 Holstein-Friesian Assh o America 
 3i-attxteboro, 
 
 OCTOBER, 1914 
 
 [8 
 
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