Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1906-11-14
FEEDING CATTLE
FOR MARKET

One of the most successful cattle
feeders In West Virginia, E. ]. Hum
phrey, In an article on feeding beef
cattle In the American Agriculturist.
says:
l try to get steer that will weigh
1000 to 1,150 pounds in October, color
red or roam or black IL an Angus,
straight and fat on the back and broad
across the hips, not sharp, good square
hind quarters, a small head and neck, a
good heavy shoulder, short legs and
slick hair, showing good breeding. I
never turn steer down because he is
fat like to have them feshy and
seldom find one too fat. 1t Is an old
saying that "a fat steer is half winter
ed" There is more truth than theory
In the statement
have very little choice between the
Shorthorn, the Hereford and the
Angus. All are good. The Shorthorn
takes little more corn than the other
two and will not winter on rough
treatment as well. My cattle are
bought as near home as possible, so no
time is wasted getting them acclimat-
ed. When the cattle arriva at the
farn-sometimes by rail, sometimes by
iand-they are turned on the pasture
until the grass is gone and frosts be-
come frequent, which Is generally be-
tween Nov. l and Is, when the cattle
are brought In and sorted up for the
winter feeding. The plan heretofore
has been to select the largest and fat
test steers for the winter feeding.
A rough steer Will look better and
sell better fattened on corn and market
ed In the winter than he will fattened
on grass and offered in summer, be-
cause In the latter part of the winter
fat cattle In country towns are scarce
and anything fat sells readily. In sum-
mer the rough steers will not get fat
until late, when there are plenty OF fat
cattle, and the smooth steer crowds
the rough one out. Cattle intended for
the summer markets are fed straw,
corn fodder and hay until about Feb
ruary, when a little corn is fed and
slowly increased until about six weeks
before grass is ready; then about eight
steers are fed bushel day until the
grass has started and the weather Is
warm enough to insure a good growth
of grass.
The cattle are then turned on the
pasture fields and all feeding stopped.
These cattle fatten rapidly and are
sold as soon as fat, usually to home
butcher on a running contract, begin
ming In June and taking them as fast
as they are fat, generally getting the
last away by the middle of August.
The grass thus gets rest through the
dry, hot season and Is ready for the
cattle when bought In the fall.
For several years past cattle have
cost from 3As to cents and have sold
from AZ to 5 cents, the difference be-
tween cost and selling price being from
S14 to S25 a steer, usually not far from
$18, TO $40. 1t is a business of short
margins and requires very close atten-
| ton to details, but II furnishes mar
ket for much feed that is not other
wise salable and makes large quantities
+, of the best fertilizer. 1 have the salts
faction of seeing the fertility of my
| farm increase, while my neighbours
land gets poorer every year. He keeps
| no stock.
A Fine Hereford.
One Of the Herefords that attracted
| great attention at a recent western
| fair was Prime Lad Ill, particularly