Reporter and farmer. [volume] (Webster, Day County, Dakota [S.D.]) 188?-1946, 1910-06-09

In feeding older cattle, however. The
gain faster and more uniformly an
put on better finish.
Feeding Older Cattle.
Where two-year-olds are to be fe,
they must usually be purchased. Oc
casionally IA few can be picked up il
the nelghborhood. but if any uumbe
are wanted they will have 10 he bough
on the general market. In order I,
make profit in feeding there mus
be margin between the cost of feed
ers and the selling price Of fat animals
1t the fat steer sells for 81 D hundred
/ weight more than he was bought for
each hundred pounds OF his Original
weight has beenfncreased in value ST.
1t 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 a mar
rover margin than lighter ones. since
there is more weight TO be Increased
In value. For instance, a margin OF 81
on 700 pound steer would mean an
increase in value OF 81. On 1000
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
a certainty in advance.
In selecting feeder steers there are
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 a
sway back or fat ribs should be avoid
ed. A sway back will never become
thickly covered with flesh, and mar
wide one. Since this is where the
highest priced meat Is found. this
point will he an important one. In
addition to this. the steers should have
good constitution and large digestive
capacity without being paunchy. Too
n P,ra no
of dressed beef that the animal will
kill out, while q 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 |
iced 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
ess roughage. The gains grow smaller
coward the end of the feeding period,
rs the cattle begin to tire OF the heavy
'ations. Where this plan is followed
he safest plan is to chaff the hay
With feed cutter and mix the grain
With it, Some oilmeal should be used
o balance the corn.
A more profitable plan usually is to
tart in more slowly, taking as long as ]
ixty days to get the cattle on full
eed. The main feed during this pre-
urinary period and much of the later
'eriod as well may be snapped corn.
silage may be fed to ad-
antage during the first part of the
eeding period. If fed silage during
he finishing period they will not
mooth up as well, ship as well or sell
S we'll
This plan OF using a lighter grain
alton and longer feeding period
reduces cheaper gains down TO
ertain point. By the end Of sixty
avs the cattle should be on full feed
nd should receive nearly all they will
iVau ut liOlu ludL time Oh. Uey
re in better shape to stand crowding
han If they had been pushed from
he start and will continue to make
gains up to the end of
he feeding period. Some Oil or cot
onseed meal should be given during
he last thirty days, as it not only
heapens the cost Of gains, but also
dds to the finish. Where there are
ogs following cattle, grinding feed
I'LL seldom pay. with the possible ex-
option of the last two or three weeks.
Experiments In feeding for a long
eriod compared as to profits with
eeding for short period have shown
nat If roughage be relatively more
lentiful and cheaper than meal then
lie long feed" is the more profitable,