The Bozeman courier., 1926-09-17

obtained without cost from the Mont
ana Experiment Station, Bozeman.
In the feeding Of cattle Mr.. Vinke
points out that calves make more
economical gains than older stock.
In Colorado, where farmers and
stockmen have developed a success
full feeding industry in the beet-grow-
ing areas, it costs, on an average,
$9.16 to put 100 pounds on calves,
$11.25 on yearlings, $13.40 on two
year-olds and $13.34 on three-year-
olds.
Discussing the feeding of different
classes of cattle Mr.. Vinke says:
In the past few years it has been
possible to buy old cows cheaply and
feed them for the butcher market.
Thin old COWS represent a small in
vestment and will do well in the
feed lot on a heavy feed of beet
pulp. They can utilize this feed
to very good advantage with a min
imum of other feeds. Thin old COWS
of mediocre breeding and quality
will take remarkable finish in a
comparatively short time but they
must be bought cheaply and mex
perienced feeders had better buy
higher quality COWS to avoid loading
up with hard feeders.
Two-year-old steers .-equire a
greater initial investment than cows,
but this is offset by the higher prices
received for gains. For example,:
If 700 pound cows are bought at
$3.50 per cwt. or $3.50 per head,
and put on 200 pounds per head, they
will probably bring five dollars per
cwt. or $45 per head, which leaves
$3.50 fer feed and other expenses.
Steers weighing 1000 pounds and
purchased at five dollars per cwt. or
$50 per head making 200 pounds
gain, will probably sell at $3.50.
per cwt. or $50 per head leaving $40
for feed and other expenses. Grant
ing that feed requirements for the
two classes of cattle are the same,
$3.50 more per head is realized
from steers than from cows. It is
generally believed that steers make
more economical gains than COWS
on good feed, but better quality
of feed and better rations are reQuir-
ed for fattening steers than for feed
ing cows. About 120 to $50 days
of feeding are required for best re-
suits with two-year-olds.
Where pulp is limited in quantity
the tendency in the sugar beet dis
tricts is to feed younger cattle as
other roughages and grain can be
worked into the rations. 1t is u.s.
ually more economical to feed young
er cattle and since they bring higher
prices the experienced feeder should
not hesitate to feed younger cattle
as they will grow and fatten at the
same time. The feeder producing
his own cattle ordinarily can feed
yearlings to better advantage thar
two-year-olds.
Only the more experienced feeders
who have available supplies of rough
ages and concentrates to go will
the beet by-products should ever
enter the specialized business of feed
ing calves for baby beef. Alfalfa
and limited amounts of pulp supple
mented with mOlasses, cotton seet
cake and grain will make chOicC
baby beef in 200 days, but it is no
advisable to feed this class of stool
to any great extent at present.
Many feeders prefer to feed heif
ers rather than steers because of tn
lower initial cost and more rapid fin
ish than steers of the same age. The
| do not bring the same price whel
finished as steers, but often there
a greater margin on heifers than o.
steers. This is especially true whe
there is not great demand for re
| stocking.
. Nondeseript cattle have a place i
4 the beet pulp feed lot. Many bee
growers and feeders have a supply G
cheap roughages which whel fe,
beet by-products make cheap gains
| When feeds are high priced goo
cattle should be fed. However, tn
inexperienced feeder had better sta
l with the better quality of cattle b,
cause of the possibility of gettin
hard feeders among the cheap kind
In In feeding sheep, old broke
mouthed ewes can be fed out sati
H factOrily on beet by-prOducts whe
II the market demand is good. 1t
n of the utmost Importance, howeve
n that the old ewes be in good healt
II as diseased ewes, such as "lungerf
are total loss in the feed lot.
Lamb feeding is by far the create
enterprise in the sheep feeding i
dustry. Lambs require better fe'
and rations than old ewes and U
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