The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1885-02-25
The Cost of Fattening Prize Steers.
lphnaHnlnhio Rnoorh

Philadelphia Record.
It is not only interesting to know that a
superior quality Of beef may be produced by
good feeding but it is important to under
stand the meth ID which the process OF
fsttening was done, and its cost. For that
purpose We wi select some of the prize ami.
n ais of the Kansas Fat Stock Show, and
give the details as made known by the stock
men who exhibited the steers. OF the young
steers. Cornwall, q Hereford, was caIved
April ,, 1882, and as the show was held in
October, 1884, be was two years and six
months cid. For the first six months he was
allowed TO remain with his dam, and then
consumed $50 gallons of skinned milk, hav-
ing the run Of the pasture during the time
he was with the COW. During
the latter part of his frat year
he also consumed 1000 punds of hay,
$50 pounds of oats, $50 pounds of bran and
ninety pounds of oilcsKe. After his first
year he was on pasture the first six months
and the latter part of bis second year was fed
1000 pounds Of hay, $40 pounds of shor -,
go pounds o. Oilcaka but during the whole
year he was also fed $40 pounds of oats and
40 pounds of cornmeaL From his second
vas fed also 1000 pounds OF hay, $40 pounds
of oats, 270pounds of oilcake and 160 pounds
Of corn on the ear. His weight was 1870
pounds, and the cost of the food consumed
is not given in detail, but the expense of
producing the 1870 pounds was So 50 per
hundred pounds Taxing look at the year
lings We find Logan, an Aberdeen Angus
steer, was calYed on October 8, 1888 For
the period to October 8. 1884, he was allowed
to be with his dam five months, and con-
sumed $50 gallons of milk. Was on pasture
the Balance of the time, and also fed or l. 600
pounds of hay. During 800 days he was given
GAO pounds OF crushed oats, 435 pounds
OF shorts and 165 pounds of oilcake.
From October to October 25-seventeen
6ays-he was fed $50 pounds OF timothy hay
hfty-o pounds of crushed oats ffty-ons
pOunCs of shorts and seventeen DO Inds of
ollcake. His weight was $50 pounds. at a
cost OF $3.50 per 100 pounds. Making q
comparison between the two steers. il will
be noticed that the younger animal was the
more DR. Jfitabie, the beef being produced at
st an estimated cost of 2 81 cents per pound,
while with the elder steer the cost was only
q fraction less than four cents per pound.
The character of the feed had much to do
with the difference in cost with some of the
steers, for the feeding of the young animals
was with view to promote growth, oats be-
ing relied upon principally for that purpose.
Another steer, aged two years and six
months, received but q small al
lowance of oats; but during the
period from birth to slaughter re.
ceived over 10000 pounds of shelled
corn, which many maintain is the cheapest
food that can be given. But the cost OF the
beef from the steer which was fed so Literally
with corn was SO AZ per hundred pounds.
The conclusions arrived at are that young
stock is more profitable than when allowed
- fully mature; that variety of food, fed
plentifully, is best that in the early stages
of growth milk is an important factor; that
while corn is clean grain, it does not give
as good results when fed alone as when used
moderately in connection with substances
itch in nitrogen and phosphates; that more
is gained by supplying the needed elements
OF growth-bone and tissue-than in at
tempting to lay on fat without building up
the structure, sno that the cheapest way to
produce beef is to feed heavily. use good
breeds, and push them from the first DAYS
existence, as better prices are also obtained
for good quality.