Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1902-03-15
AN EXPERTS VIEW ON
sToCKERs AND FEEDERS

4 y
tural station has just issued a bull
letin on the characteristics of stock
ers and feeders as follows:
1t is not our intention at this time
to discuss the question as TO whether
it pays best to buy ana finish good to
choice strong weight stockers or
light and common to medium grades.
This is question which depends
largely upon local and market condi-
tions. In this matter it is safer to
depend upon the intelligent iudg-
ment of the feeder than upon any
general principles involved.
Z 1t is necessary, however, to estai-
lish a standard grade of stockers and
feeders which we shall attempt to
describe; otherwise we should con-
fuse rather than define. If there is
one grade of stockers and feeders
that is more uniform to describe than
anotEcr il IS the good TO choice grade
that Will under proper management
develop into prime steers. 1t would
seem wise therefore, to consider the
desirable characteristics of stocllers
and feeders which are TO be CON
vcrted into prime bullccks.
1t IS comparatively easy task to
name the characteristics Of the prime
lsteer, or at least to describe one
which Will meet the present require
ments of the market; not so the
stocller or feeder. In the former
case, we are obliged not only to de-
termine whether the steer in finishing
viii take on that smoothness IF out
line. that condition and that quality
demanded by the market, but also
that the same steer when placed in
iced lot will meet the requirements of
the farmer. The farmer carries the
steer through the fattening process
that he may realize a profit by the
enterprise. As Tlle he is not par
II ticular whether he secures mis- profit
II by the increase value of each pound
of beef by converting the relatively
cheap raw material in The form of
lstockers and feeders into high priced
prime steers. or whether he has real
lied that profit by being able to pro-
duoe gains in live weight without Il
gain IN value per pound. AIanifestIy
lit is To the former source of profit
n that ne must look with greatest con-
II fidence. 1t is clear. however. that by
overlooking the factor of selecting
steers which have the ability to
economically convert grain and for
age into beef we disregard n possible
source of profit and run great risk
of sustaining loss in our feeding opcr-
lations where with proper regard to
this factor a substantial profit is
1 possible. TO put il in another way.
we may say that when put into the
feed lot the Stocker is expected to
gain IN live weight; such gain may be
lmadc at a great loss, or under favor
able conditions At Il profit. The
ability to make economical gains in
flesh and fat is thus shown to he of
vital Importance.
! We may say then that we demand
/ in the good to choice stockers and
feeders, first. the ability to finish as
prime steers. and second. the ability
to make economical gains i'm flesh and
fat. As far as our present know
ledge of the matter goes, we look for
indications of these tendencies in the
form. quality and constitution of
lstocl<ers and feeders.
| /. Form-The general form should
he low-set. deep, broad and compact
rather than high up, gaunt. narrow
/ feeders should be low-set or on short
/ legs because animals of this confor-
nation indicates good constitution,
capaCity for growth and of ultimately
producing Il relatively high percent
age of the most valuable cuts. They
should possess straight top and I'M
derlines which should he nearly par
Iallel, should be low ut the TANKS thus
forming what we have spoken of
above as good depth. for the barrel
of istockcrs and feeders as well as
dairy COWS should be roomy. An ami
NAL which is too pounchy. however.
is Objectionable to the butcher. The
matter of low TANKS should. believe.
be emphasized as il is an almost un-
failing sign Of good constitution and
good feeding quality. 1t should he
borne in mind that in the stoc<er and
feeder thin i'm flesh and largely dcsti-
tute of external or surface fat we are
afforded the ocst opportunity we are
ever able TO get of determining the
covering of natural flesh character
istic of the animal.
Secure as much smoothness of out
line as is consistent with low flesh,
being especially careful to avoid too
great prominence in hips. taiIhead and
shoulders. Avoid rough. open should
crs. sway backs and large coarse
heads with small eyes SET in the side
of the head. Short, broad heads and
short thick necks Indicate strong
Tendencies toward beef making. \
large, prominent and mild eye is to
be desired. The mild eye denotes
that the animal has quiet DISPOSE
ton which all feeders know is so de
sirable in a steer intended for the
feed lot. The distance between eye
and horn should be short and the
horn should be fiat and of medium
fineness rather than round and
coarse. The lower jaw should be
In I.