Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1873-05-28
The Proper Age to Feed Cattle for Market.

The feeder looks first Of all to profits
and here we suppose, the question in regard
to the proper age for turning cattle oil to
the butcher ought to be no longer a ques-
ton for discussion. A well.brcd steer can
be made to weigh from ] 800 to 1000 lbs.
at-say 80 months old, with only such feed
and management as any good farmer may
probably provide. The gain per month
up to this period will be much greater than
can be made afterwards, and we believe it is
generally conceded that the gain made by
the young animals is also greater IN pro-
portion to the amount Of food consumed.
With a breed Of cattle that mature carly,
the flesh, at the age indicated, while it may
possibly be somewhat inferior in rich juici-
ness to the flesh Of the same animal a year
later, will nevertheless be a really excellent
quality. II is therefore, all things con.
sidercd the approved practice to turn oft
steers Of good blood that have been proper
ly fed snd grazed, the fall or early winter
after they are two years Of age. II at
this age they are ripe, it would not pay to
feed them through the winter for the spring
market, unless beef should be greatly ad-
vanced inprice. If cattlco Of thisage are kept
through The winter, they should be grazed
until the latter part OF Juue and should the
thomarkel then be too low, they may be allow
ed toromaiuat grass until October or Noyem-
Der. In giving two and half years as
the proper age TO turn OF cattle for the
slaughter, it will hc understood that we
are stating what 10 our judgmcn, should be
/ the rule for idc rraz'cr and feeder who has
bred bis own cattle, aud kept them rapidly
thriving on good food and pasture from calf
/ hood lfa man wishes to handle o set Of
steers for only six or eight months, he may
fad it equally profitable to buy them at
three years old, in February or March, if
be can get them at fair prices, in only mod
crate stock condition, as to purchase two
yoar.ods
Indeed cattle Of the common sort at three
years are no furthur advanced than good
grade Short-horus are at year younger.
Nor will they weigh more neither can they
usually be made to weigh as much by from
one to three hundred pounds the next fall !;
so that if the choice were to be made be-
tween wellbrod two years olds and cattle Of
the common sort year older the former
should be preferred, even if the price were
20 TO 30 per cent higher per 100
Sometimes it happens that a fair profit is
made in feeding and grazing common and
inferior cattle but it is only when they
are purchased at very low figures, aud the
market is brisk when selling-tmo comes.
As a general thing, there is no money in
them If the market is good they sell low
as compared with better classes aud ifihey
strike a hard market, they are docked in
price and docked in weight, and the result
is disastrous to the man that handles them.
On most of the lands east Of the Missis-
sippi, aud on the higher-prced farms in
Missouri, Iowa and Minnesota, il will not
pay to Craze or feed and especially viii it
be Improbable to Irced a poor class Oh
cattle On high priced lands We must
keep less stock, feed higher, and handle ou-
" such breeds as wall, on account Of tbe
excellence of their flesh, their superior
feeding qualities, and their early maturity
make the best returns for this liberal keep
ing and management.