Show public In answer to the rowing growing pub pub- pub lic demand for small cuts of beef bed from tidy well finished carcasses University authorities of California author author- authorities demonstrations are encouraging demonstrations tiong of creep feeding of calves on several ranches in the tho state This method consists of putting in in fed troughs near central watering places and salt l Ecks and putting in fences that will vill not permit the cows to gain lin access to the feed but with smaller openings through which the calves can get to the th f feed The calves are arc given giyen access to grain feed rations when four to six weeks 1 of age while the tho cows remain on pasture Thus the cal cal- calves calyes cal calves ves yes continue to nurse their moth moth- mothers mothers mothers ers but at the same time obtain concentrate feeds At times it is i necessary to supplement pasture feeds for the cows in order to main maintain maintain tain a good milk flow Avery A very small amount of feed is is required per calf yet the little make excellent and rapid gains until after a period of seven or eight months the calves are arc almost as large as their mothers parti parti- particularly if they happen to be first heiters of the usual Arizona type In Ii going over a recent demonstration tion we find that hat the he calves at t the I outset outset ate only 58 68 pound of feed per day In the next month the average increased t to pounds I while during the closing months of oft t I the test the calves cales required to pounds per day After eight months of creep feeding one lot of calves weighed pounds and the youngest lot pounds The They were thor then placed in feed feed- feedlots feedlots lots feed lots and the cows turned back bacle on pasture The calves es gained an aver avera average average a age e of better than 25 pounds a aday aday aday day eating what they wanted from self feeders After seventy four seventy four days in the feedlot the oldest lot none of which yet a year old aver averaged averaged aged aged 73 1 pounds after a three per perc percent percent c cent nt shrink oNt every ranch is equipped feeding of calves cales Important re- re requirements requirements re requirements appear to be well bred cows good quality thick and deep bodied d bulls central water water- watering watering watering ing places good pasture mixed homegrown feeds of good quality Given these requirements creep feeding appears to an econ econ- economical econ econ- economical economical means of producing choice light beef which is in the greatest demand at the markets and sells at relatively higher prices The importance of good breeding and good quality feeds can hardly be over emphasized |