The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1885-02-27
The Cost of Fattening Prize Steer

Philadelphia Record.
1t is not only interesting to know that supe-
rior quality of beef may be produced by good
feeding, but it is important to understand the
method in which the process of fattening was
done, and it's cost For that purpose we will
select some of the prize animals of the Kansas
fat stock show, and give the details as made
known by the stockmen who exhibited the steers
OF thu young steers, Cornwall a Hereford, was
calved April 2 1882. and the show held
in October, 1884, he was two years and six
months old. For the first six months he was
allowed to remain with his dam, and then con-
sumed lS0 gallons Of SKINNED milk, having the
run Of the pasture during the time he was with
the cow. During the latter part of his first
year he also consumed 1000 pounds of hay, $50
pounds of oats. 100 pounds of bran and 80
pounds of oil cake. After his first year he was
on pasture the first six months, and the latter
part of his second year was fed 1000 pounds Of
hay $40 pounds of shorts, 240 pounds of oil cake,
but during the whole year he was also fed $40
pounds of oats and $40 pounds of corn meal
From his second year until Oct Is he was on
$40 pounds of OATS 270poundso of oil cake and l60
pounds of corn on the His weight was 1910
pounds, and the cost of the food consumed is
not given in detail, but the expense of producing
the 1910 pounds was SO. Sc per hundred pounds.
Taking look at the yearlings, we find Lo-
gan, an Aberdeen Angus steer, was calved on
Oct. 8, 1883. For the period to Oct 8, 1884, he
was allowed to be with his dam five months,
and consumed 1870 gallons Of milk; was
pasture the balance of the time, and
also fed on 1000 pounds Of hay. During 300
days he was given GAO pounds of crushed oats,
43o pounds of shorts and 165 pounds of oil cake.
Prom October 8 to October 25-seventeen days
he was fed 150pounds of timothy hay, 81 pounds
Of crushed oats, 81 pounds of shorts and II
pounds of oil cake. His weight was 960 pounds,
at cost of So Is per hundred pounds Making
a comparison between the two steers, it will be
noticed that the younger animal was the more
profitable the beef being produced at an esti-
mated cost of g GA cents per pound while with the
elder steer the cost was only fraction less than
4 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 being relied upon principally for that
purpose. Another steer, aged two years and
oats, but during the period from birth to
slaughter received over 10, 600 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 $647 per 100 pounds. The conclusions ar
rived at are that young stock is more profitable
than when allowed to fully mature; that a
variety of food fed plentifully, is BEST that in
the early stages of growth milk is an important
factor; that while corn is cheap grain, it does
not give as good results when fed alone as when
used moderately in connection with substances
rich in nitrogen and phosphates; that more is
gained by supplying the needful elements of
growth-bone and tissue-than in attempting to
lay on fat without building up the structure, and
that the cheapest way to produce beef is to feed
heavily, use good breeds, and push them from
the first days existence, better prices also
obtained or good quality.