The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1891-11-18
THE FATTENING OF STEERS
HOW CORN Is SCIENTIFICALLY
TURNED INTO TISSUE.

1ue bSRtuuinR IN tuS UTeht OoEh
Beit-The Final Ending at the
Slaughter House,
Western dressed beef, says the New
York Times, is sound corn converted
into flesh by scientific processes that
have been evolved by a generation Of
stock farmers and packers working hand
in hand. The best dressed beef Is that
Of the steer fattene1 upon the ranges of
the so-called 'corn beltn which, roughly
speaking, includes a large portion Of
Missouri, Iowa, Illinois, Kansas and Ne
braska.
An inclosure of five acres is considered
amply sufficient for the feeding of herd
of five hundred or a thousand steers.
Feeders endeavor to include portion OF
some natural water course within the
feeding pens. Otherwise, water is fur
nished by driven wells, which, upon the
Western prairie lands, are sure to tap q
water bearing stratum a few feet beneath
the surface. The water is pumped by
windmills. The feeder also tries to in
clude clumps of trees and broken areas
of bluff within the feeding pen. In the
winter, when the billiards come sweep
ing down from the pole, the shelter Of
bluffs and trees enables the cattle to sur
vive an otherwise fatal storm. In the
centre of the feeding pen is large rack,
three feet across the base, and enlarging
toward the top. These hay racks hold
three tons of hay aud also furnish shell
ter. They are kept filed with hay, and
the steer is at all times allowed to eat Its
fill.
After it has become accustomed to its
new lodgings it is fed with corn, not get.
ting much at first for .1lr it NAV
"founder." The first few days the steer
Is fed sparinglY "snap corn" which is
corn upon the ear with tie husk uure-
moved, each steer being allowed half
dozen ears. This allowance is increased
day by day, and at the end of four weeks
the steer is disposing of half bushel of
shelleo corn per day. Hereafter it may
eat as much shelled corn as it wants, and
If it is strong and heslthful it has passed
one of the most critical periods of corn
feeding. II a number of the steers are
found to be sick or ailing, the herd is
hODAiNSA VI IluCl VI lIo COLu TdJlOu, anu
the process OF quitting them upon their
feed" is begun over again.
No dogs are allowed about the in
closures. "Scrub" Western cattle are
excluded from the pens where the ma
tives are being fed. Western "scrubs"
have a trace of wild aud lawless blood
in their veins, and upon the least occa-
sion are liable to create a row. A steer
that Is suffering from wet and cold does
not increase in flesh. II is, therefore,
necessary to have a part of the yard dry,
where the cattle may rest and find pro-
lection from the wind. Feeding cattle
are allowed oil the water that they can
drink, but as cold water checks the d.
gestive processes, the water is kept COZ
stantly warm by fire beneath the water
troughs.
In the winter time the cattle huddle
together for mutual protection against
cold and wind. When there is any
protection in the way of bluffs or trees,
cattle rarely freeze. The great fatality
among cattle on Western ranches is due
to absolute lack of protection, aud rarely
to the intense cold itself. Many range
cattle owe their death to the fact that
they uncover the prairie grasses with
their noses rather than with their hoofs.
When the "northers" sweep down across
the plains the crust upon the snow be-
comes thick, and the cattle often strive
in vain to break the hard covering, and
die of starvation. 1t is trying time
upon the feeding ranch when the banks
of gray clouds upon the horizon indicate
that blizzard is at hand. These fierce
storms often continue for three or four
days without intermission. During a
blizzard cattle In an exposed yard will
keep on the move as long as possible,
finally they huddle close together at the
lower end of the enclosure, and seldom
freeze when in good condition. If there
is shed close at hand insufficient foi
the accommodation of the entire herd,
the animals outside push until many OF
those in the bunch are thrown down and
trampled under foot.
The steer is kept on full feed from
four to six months, as its condition aud
the constantly varying market may de.
mand. Under the most favorable condi-
tions it will gain three pounds day.
Ordinarily it will increase its weight by
daily increment of pound and quar-
ter or two pounds, and has gained 800
pounds during the stay in the feeding
pen. The quality of the beef is better,
and steak from the steer will be found
streaked with innumerable lines of fat.
This fat is hard corn converted into aui-
NAL tissue. Hogs are fattened with cat.
tie. Like all other natural products the
steer attains certain stage of perfection.
Such steer is "ripe," and should be
hurried off to the shambles without
delsy. An experienced feeder is able to
tell at glance when the animals of his
herd are ripe.
The steer, when "ripe," is broad scr os
the back, Its body is large and round,
and its hide is sleek and glossy. Ii
spends large portion of the time on the
ground, rises with difficulty and soon lies
down again. 1t is now a different ami!
NAL from the fierce steer that left the
far Western range. From thirty to
thirty-four steers could then be trans.
ported in single cattle-car. Now
eighteen can barely find standing room
in a similar space. The access Of mar.
ketable beef equals $50 pounds. During
the process of conversion the steer has
used up two acres of wild prairie pas.
ture, has devoured ton and half OF
prairie hay, or millet, has consumed
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