The Mitchell capital. (Mitchell, Dakota [S.D.]) 1879-1918, 1909-04-15
ONLY BEST STEERS

Many 1ecOeiS, Dul lIlOIe CSPSSAhhS 'AS
beginner in the business are apt TO make
mistakes when putting a fresh bunch OK
cattle on feed. AS q general thing the
feeding operations are started IN lhe 1ate
fall or early winter and one of the main
things to remember Is to start the caltie
upon their grain ration gradually.
1t must not be forgotten that for many
months previous they have been on pas
ture and their ration has consisted largely
of green succulent food. If they are TAX
en- from pasture and put at once upon a
ration of rich dry feed, the stock upon
the digestive system will often result as
astrously. Even though the steer has .
large digestive tract, it stands without
question that it requires different func-
tons to digest green grass than TO digest
corn or corn meal, and to get the best re-
suits from either kind of feed the change
from one to the other must be gradual.
A common method OF changing to the
grain ration is to commence throwing a
little corn fodder, with the ears remain
ing, Into the pasture. In this manner
! the steers will acquire a taste for corn. AS
the amount Is gradually increased their
digestive organs will them
selves to the change. Sudden changes OF
this kind often result in bad cases OF
| scours or sometimes bring about equally
bad cases of constipation, either OF which
will put the steer out OF condition and 1t
will take a considerable amount of feed as
well as time to bring him back into a nor
NAL growing condition.
Another point which often gives feeders
trouble Is putting western cattle upon a
grain ration. In buying steers from the
range at our large markets 1t must not
be forgotten that most of these cattle
have never seen a grain of corn and have
no idea what 1t is. IL a large amount OF
corn is thrown into their feed boxes at
once they will generally muss 1t over con-
siderably and q large part If 1t apt to be
wasted. In feeding these western steers
they should lie given just enough corn at
first SO that they will become acquainted
with 1t and the additions to this ration
should be given more gradual than when
native steers are fed. However. when a
western steer once becomes accustomed
to corn or other grain his appetite for
these rations is something wonderful and
his gains correspondingly large.
An experienced feeder will tell you that
the length of the feeding period depends
largely upon the quality of the steers in
the feed lot. II common rough steers are
put on feed there is seldom. If ever, an
occasion when this kim Of cattle can be
fed during a long period of fed to q fin
ish,'' as feeders use the term. In fact,
plain steers will never take such a finish
tina they will be market toppers. and only
when a man has cattle that will sell near
the top can be afford to keep steers In the
feed lot for any great length OF time. II
| lUo IOu8l ACSOll8 SSCSA0 i wv SS0i0 oA
age or older when purchased and carrying
considerable weight there Is generally the
most profit In warming them up with corn
for not moro than 80 days and putting
them on the market In feeding this way
the feeder gets not only the gain made by
the steers but the better price for the orig
inal weight. For the man who intends to
feed steers for a period OF five to SIX
months the very best feeding steers are
the only ones which should be handled.
They should be cattle that are Of good
quality and capable of taking on a finish
that will put them at the very top OF the
market. Many of our market topping
steers at the present time were put IL the
feed lot at from IL to Is months OF age
and marketed at from % to "a months. The
old demand for excessively heavy steers is
rapidly decreasing and I'm their place the
market calls for we'll finished steers OF
medium size that kill out a higher per
cent. Cattle marketed at the above men
toned ages are known to the trade as long
yearlings n there Is seldom a season
when this class OF cattle will not command
the best figure that the market affords.