Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1910-06-22
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!. CLEMSON EXTENSION WORK !.
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Article Kill.
Feeding Beef Cattle.


Feeding Beef Cattle.
Can we, with economy, feed beef
cattle In this State? Can we feed
cattle for market and at least get the
manure for our trouble? Can we feed
becves at a profit?
We are often asked these quetsiOns
and a brief summary OF results Of
feeding lot OF about thirty may be
of interest as by this means we can
present facts and not guess work.
This lot we began to feed on No.
vcmber J. ) and it consisted Of a mixed
bunch OF steers and hciferS, nearly
half Of each.
5,S9G pounds, or gain Of 2lS
pounds each, averaging little more
than II " pounds per head per week
This. as any feeder knows, is
very good gain and was particularly
good in this instance, as they were Il
mixed lot Of mountain cattle, OBJ
tanned locally, and OF a rather low
average in quality.
In this time they consumed 1OI,-
COO pounds slagc and 2l,l62ls
pounds cotton seed meal, or an aver
age of 81 pounds silagc and X,
pounds meal per head per day.
If Stlagc is valued at $3 per ton
and meal at $50 per ton, then these
steers cost to feed at rate Of l7h
cents per day. TO Offset the cost OF
the feed we obtained the gain of
Il S-l5 pounds per week, the ma
nurc, and the increase Of value to
the whole animal that comes from
the added flesh.
II some sections it is expected to
oil l,.,.
per pound more when fattcncd than
they cost when thin. Using these
figures, let us see how our account
would stand.
,...aSc consumed in fifteen
weeks, at 50 per ton. .Sl5S 90
Meal for same time at $50
per ION = > 90
Total cost of feed. .$l73 90
Weight at start was 22.S5O pounds.
At , Y cents per pound the amount
would be $199.75.
The gain was J.S96 pounds. maxi
ing the selling weight 2S.7lG pounds.
II sold at gain OF | cent per pound
thcn--
2$.1l6 pounds at ll2c...$1.293 II
Dcduci cost .......... 100 -
- Ealanc" ..;,......$ 1913 II
Cost OF food as above. ...$ l73 90
Selling price above cost IS 20 ~
Selling price is only an estimate. as
the above cattle were for our own
use. hence not sold. but the lesson
remains inst the same.
Under Favorable circumstances this
indicates that cattle may be fed for
beef and che manure obtained for the
labor
II the cattle were fed at seasons
when meal is lower in price the show
ing would be better The Silagc. too,
may usually be grown for less than
So per ton and in thar case il would
be so much to the ADVANTAGE OF the
feeder
TN" foregoing shows that this in
uuStrN may be pro .itablc as an aid in
buildlnG up the farm, but we must
present the following cautions. and
would suggest the dcSirability Of fat
i"nlnS only few, say a car lot. the
iirSt time and let the business grow
as one becomes accustomed to all
the conditions TO be met
II cattle are bought from y dist
a:.r". study the freight rates and see
il hat may prohibit the enterprise.
In buying be careful they are not
weighed just after receiving food and
water.
Learn If tn" market in which Won
wish to sell will take hcifcrs, or if
it pays better for steers. and act ac-
cOrdin&ly.
.lf hciicrS are bought, get Snavcd
ones If possible, or if not then such
as are not bred or at least that ,rc