Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1904-06-14
Fed 20 Steers For $3.50.

lNU ~ OSVVl . vi $VsVVs
II. A. Eckstein g. Bro, Ches ter,
Howard county, Iowa, were represent
ed on this market Monday with twen-
ty head of Hereford grade cattle of
their own breeding and feeding that
were good enough to sell at s6,4O, be-
ing one of three consignments that
sold at the top of the market, with
1880 head OF cattle on sale, according
to the official enumeration of the I'm
ion Stock and Transit Company.
This is record to be proud of and
shows the quality of cattle that Messrs
Eckstein breed and feed.
"These cattle were really the tail
end of the past two seasons" said F.
A. Eckstein last night in the Office of
the Drover's Journal. "In ages they
were yearlings and 2-year-olds. We
picked out the best calves of both
years and sold them for breeding bulls
for range work. Consequently this
seriously impaired the quality of the
cattle as compared with what they
would have been had they not suffer-
ed from the culling. AS tits, howev-
er, think that we did very we'll, but
we could have done better had we not
cut out the best, as l said, for breed
ing purposes.
II do not think we shall try the ex-
pertinent again. Another year we
sha II put all the calves into the feed
ing yard, rather than select the best
for sale for breeding purposes. In do
ing this, we will avoid taking the best
out of our feeding lot, SO that when
they are ultimately landed upon this
market we shall be able to sell the
best and show just what good Here
ford cattle can do.''
These cattle were yearlings and Q
year-olds. When weighed over the
scales here to the PACKER they average
led 1928 pounds. When they we're put
on feed on Dec. l, Mr., Eckstein estl-
mates that they averaged about 300
pounds. Assuming this to be correct,
the twenty head showed an average
OF about 3 pounds daily gain for the
$50 days of feeding.
These cattle were fed In an open
yard, with no other protection than
an open shed: and, like thousands Of
other choice cattle, had no other pro-
lection during the winter. The yard
faced the south and furnished the
steers with an excellent opportunity
for good work, as evidenced by the
good gain made and the showing upon
this market last Monday. Mr.. Eek
stein said he would have fed them at
least three Of four weeks longer before
bringing them in, had it not been for
the location of the yard, facing the
south as it did and being exposed to
the sun, increasing the danger daily
Of having the steers seriously affected
with the heat. Whether or not thir-
| ty days more feeding would have i'm
proved these steers remains ques.
tion. It is possible that with the adj
ditional flesh upon them they would
not have been in SO desirable condi-
tion to meet the wants of the packer
and SO command the top price they as
they were when marketed here this
week. To attain tine top of the mar
ket at the time these cattle did,
means that they were in very Salts
factory condition from the packers
point Of view, and obviously this is
just about what every feeder whe
wants market toppers' is after.
When calves, these steers run With
dams upon the pasture and had all
the advantages of fresh milk and
plenty Of it. After weaving they
were kept growing, so that the break
between the two periods was the least
possible. Undoubtedly had there
been trouble at this time these cattle
would not have shown up SO well as
they did when marketed here.
Cornmeal formed the main portion
! of their grain ration. During the
first three months Of the feeding they
were given oil meal at the rate Of
about two pounds per day, with an
equal amount Of bran. During the
middle of the period the oilmeal was
increased along with the bran until
the steers were getting something
like FIVE pounds per day per steer.
This feeding a0nttnued until the
steers were marketed here. The oil
meal played no mean part in the I'm
ishing Of these steers. In addition to
keeping their digestion In smooth
working condition, an added finish
was given to the coat that always APP
peals to the spectator. Its not i'm
possible to suppose that the buyer
was all the more fayorably impressed
with the appearance OF the steers
from the fact that they were smooth
and well aroomed on the outside.
Cornmeal was fed every morning
and night. The oilmeal and bran was
given at noon. During the first part
Of the feeding, or until March, shock
corn was fed for roughage, but when
this gave out timothy and clover hay
mixed was GuhSt,i tinted Obviously