The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1910-08-11
q N:s ~ RSDA Z ], AUGUST Ill, 1910.


u feeding older cattle, however. They
gain faster and more uniformly and
put on q better finish. Il
Feeding Older Cattle.
Where two-year-olds are to be fed
they must usually be purchased. Oc-
casionally few can be picked up in
the neighborhood. but If any number
are wanted they will have to be bought
on the general market. In order to
make profit in feeding there must
be margin between the cost Of feed
ers and the selling price Of fat animals.
It the fat steer sells for 81 a hundred
weight more than he was bought for,
each hundred pounds of his original
weight has been increased in value ST.
It is in this way that most Of the profit
In feeding is obtained.
Buying feeding cattle right is one
of the most important factors to sue
cess in the cattle business. Large cat
tie can be safely purchased on mar
rover margin than lighter ones, since
there is more weight to be increased
In value. For instance, margin of 81
on a 700 pound steer would mean an
increase in value of 81. On 1900
pound steer the margin would need to
be only 60 cents to produce the same
amount. Another general principle is
that the lower the price at which the
feeders are bought the greater must be
the margin. OF course the margin in
any case can be only estimated, since
the selling price cannot be foretold to
q certainty in advance.
In selecting feeder steers there are a
number Of points to be kept in mind.
One Of the most important Of these is
uniformity. A bunch of steers that
are uniform as to size and quality will
feed better together and bring better
price when fattened. The feeders
should come as near the beef type as
possible-short face and neck. deep
body, well sprung ribs, broad back,
straight top and under line, long rump,
fairly short legs. The steer with
sway back or fat ribs should be avoid
ed. A sway back will never become
thickly covered with flesh, and a mar
row one cannot carry as much meat as
a wide one. Since this is where the
highest priced meat is found, this
point will be an important one. In
addition to this, the steers should have
good constitution and large digestive
capacity without being paunchy. Too
| large paunch lessons the percentage
Of dressed beef that the animal will
kill out, while a steer that is tucked
up in the flank will never make good
gains. If any Of the cattle have horns
they should be dehorned at once after
getting them home
The usual method of getting cattle
on feed is to hurry the process as much
as possible, getting them on full feed
within fifteen to thirty days from the
time they were first put into the feed
lot. Where the cattle are to be on
feed but short time, say ninety days,
this is undoubtedly the best method.
1t is not economical, however. Larger
amounts of grain will be used with
less roughage. The gains grow smaller
toward the end Of the feeding period,
as the cattle begin to tire of the heavy
rations. Where this plan is followed
the safest plan is to chaff the hay
with feed cutter and mix the grain
with it. Some oilmeal should be used
| to balance the corn.
A more profitable plan usually is to
start in more slowly. taking as long as
sixty days to get the cattle on full
l in,
l1minary period and much of the later
period as well may be snapped corn.
Considerable silage may be fed to ad-
vantage during the first part of the
feeding period If fed silage during
the finishing period they will not
smooth up as we'll, ship as we'll or sell
| as well.
This plan Of using a lighter grain
ration and a longer feeding period
produces cheaper gains down to a
certain point. By the end of sixty
days the cattle should be on full feed
and should receive nearly all they will
clean up from that time on. They
are in better shape to stand crowding
than if they had been pushed from
the start and will continue to make
satisfactory gains up to the end of
the feeding period. Some oil or cot
tonseed meal should be given during
the last thirty days. as it not only
cheapens the cost of gains, but also
adds to the finish Where there are
hogs following cattle, grinding feed
will seldom pay, with the possible ex-
ception Of the last two or three weeks.
Experiments in feeding for a long
period compared as to profits with
feeding for short period have shown
that if roughage be relatively more
plentiful and cheaper than meal then
the 'slong feed" is the more profitable.