Live Stock Breeders' Association. 125 



FEEDERS PREFER CATTLE IN THE TWO-YEAR OLD FORM. 



As has already been pointed out, it is quite evident that the 

 feeders, in filling out our blanks, had in mind cattle in their two- 

 year-old form. This is evidenced by their stating that the aver- 

 age length of the feeding period was six months, which is about 

 the time required to make two-year-old cattle prime, is longer than 

 is necessary for three-year-olds, and is too short for yearlings or 

 calves. It is further evidenced by the average weight which they 

 considered they had found most profitable, viz., approximately 

 1,350 pounds. This is too light for three-year-olds, and too heavy 

 for yearlings or calves. 



Then, again, the question put to them directly as to whether 

 they had found 1,500 or 1,600-pound steers profitable, as a rule, 

 out of 721 replies, in round numbers, or practically 70 per cent, 

 answered in the negative. 



All of this is further confirmed by the answer to the question 

 direct as to what age they usually put their cattle on full feed. 

 A study of this age summary is exceedingly interesting and in- 

 structive, as the results are very striking. For example, out of 

 a total of 680 replies from Missouri, 257, or nearly 40 per cent, 

 gave two years as the age at which their cattle were put on full 

 feed, which would mean, with a six months' feeding period, as was 

 reported by them in answer to previous question, 30 months old 

 cattle, when finished and ready for the market. 



Thirteen per cent gave two and one-half years of age, and 11 

 per cent gave essentially the same answer, namely, "between two 

 and three years of age," as their preference. Thus more than 62 

 per cent of the Missouri feeders reported that they put their cattle 

 on feed at between two and three years of age, as contrasted with 

 less than 4 per cent who put them on as calves, less than 4 per 

 cent who put them on as yearlings, and but a fraction over 4 per 

 cent who put them on at one and one-half years of age. 



What is true of the reports from Missouri is essentially true 

 of Iowa, as will be readily seen from the summary just presented. 



It is a significant fact that in Missouri, Iowa and Illinois the 

 number of men who put their catte on feed at three years of age 

 was almost double the number who put their cattle on feed under 

 two years of age. 



It is evident, therefore, that after all that has been said about 

 the advantage of cheaper gains made by young cattle, the cattle 



