BEEF CATTLE ENTERPRISE
Analysis into Jobs.—The following jobs or teaching units include the
main operations in the pursuit of the beef cattle enterprise. References are
to pages in New Agriculture, Davis’ Farm Projects and Problems, and to
numbers of available U. 8S. Farmers’ Bulletins. See Snapp’s Beef Cattle.
1. Deciding whether or not to raise beef cattle, p. 373; Farm Projects,
411; Bulletins, 812, 1132, 1167, 1361, 1379, 1382, 1395. Local
mquiry.—(a) Compare market prices of beef cattle with former
prices. (b) Compare price changes with prices of feeds. (¢) Talk
with farmers regarding the hope and advisability of trying to
make money from beef raising.
2. Choosing the beef breed, pp. 373-376, 378; Farm Projects, 411, 413
416; Bulletins, 1066, 1068, 1073, 1361, 1382. Local inquiry.—
(@) Which breeds are most strongly represented among the pure-
breds and grades of your region? (b) Get reasons from farmers
for using the breeds they have. (¢) Find the local conditions
which would suit one breed over another.
3. Selecting and procuring beef cattle, pp. 373-377; Farm Projects,
413-416; Bulletins, 612, 993, 1066, 1068, 1073, 1361, 1382. Local
inquiry.— (a) Outline several plans of procuring beef cattle and
get the opinions of farmers regarding each plan. (b) Compare the
qualities of breeding stock on the best farms. (¢) Ask successful
feeders what main point to consider when buying feeding stock.
4. Planning barns, shelters and equipment, pp. 377, 378; Farm Projects,
417; Bulletin, 1350. Local inquiry.— (a) Visit several beef cattle
farms and study the sheds and barns used. (b) Compare them in
cost and efficiency. (¢) Calculate the depreciation, maintenance
and interest to be charged against the herd each year for barns
and equipment. (d) Compare the barn spaces provided with the
sizes of herds on several farms.
5. Planning crops and pastures for a beef business, p.380; Farm
Projects, 417-418; Bulletins, 812, 820, 1008, 1229. Local inquiry.
(a) Outline rotations followed on several good beef farms. (b)
Study the pasture systems followed. (ec) Compare permanent
pastures with temporary pastures for beef cattle. (d) What
grasses and legumes are used in local pastures?
6. Buying concentrates, p. 382; Bulletins, 1073, 1135, 1379, 1416. Local
inquiry—(a) What grains or other concentrates are grown on
local beef farms? (bh) Ask farmers how they decide what to buy.
(¢) How do they buy needed feeds. (d) Get their opinions
regarding coiperative buying.
7. Registering animals, p. 331; Farm Projects, 427; Bulletin, 1167.
Local inquiry—(a) Talk with owners of pure-breds regarding
ages for registering calves. (b) What proportion of their calves
are never registered? Why? (c) Get them to explain their Sys
tem of naming young animals. (d) Have them help you fill regi-
stration papers and transfer papers for each of the breeds found.
8. Managing the herd, p. 380; Farm Projects, 418-420; Bulletins, 720,
812, 993, 1008, 1167, 1382, 1416. Local inquiry.— (a) What sys-
tems are followed regarding the rearing of calves? (b) Get the
dates of the dropping of calves. (ec) Study the watering and
fencing systems on several farms. (d) What practices are fol-
lowed regarding dehorning, ringing, castrating? (e) Compare
management of feeders with management of others on the same
farm.
SFC)
J
-
