156 Missouri Agricultural Report. 



ished early or not, and upon the kind of grass. If the weather is 

 disposed to be somewhat dry and the earlier growth of grass is 

 very nutritious and palatable, they will make excellent gains and 

 go on fattening on a limited supply of grain. If, on the other hand, 

 the season be rainy and warm and the- grass rank and washy, the 

 tendency of the cattle will be to grow and not to fatten, unless they 

 are crowded on full feed, and even then it is oftentimes difficult to 

 more than make a big growth during these two months. 



//* the Cattle are to be Sold as Feeders — In case the cattle are 

 to be sold as feeders, it is quite important that they be warmed out, 

 as described in case they are to be fed. This warming process has 

 two very important advantages. 



First, it enhances very materially the appearance or attractive- 

 ness of the cattle so that they will sell more readily and at a better 

 price than when thin and carrying a starry coat. 



Second, by this process the alimentary tract is filled and the 

 weight of the animal is increased out of proportion to the cost of 

 the same. For example, in putting a steer on full feed there is an 

 increase in weight of from 20 to 60 pounds, depending upon the 

 size of the animal, that is mainly "fill," but which brings as much 

 per pound as any other weight when the cattle are sold alive and is 

 of value, as has already been pointed out, in making him look 

 thicker, flank down better, have a more restful and contented ex- 

 pression, and in short, altogether more thrifty and attractive. 



This applies to cattle to be sold from grass in the fall as well 

 as to those which are to be offered from the wintering pens in the 

 spring. That is, cattle that are to be sold from pasture in the fall 

 may be very profitably fed for 30 or 40 days, or even 60 days, be- 

 ginning with green corn. The gains secured and the improvement 

 in the appearance of the animal are out of all proportion to the 

 cost, and will be reflected in the price the animals will bring per 

 pound and in the weights when driven over the scales. 



It would seldom be found profitable to carry cattle through 

 the third winter. That is, they should be sold the spring or fall 

 they are two years old at least. With plenty of grass, two-year olds 

 graze very profitably. 



Gains Made on Grass in Summer by Yearlings and Two Year 

 Olds Contrasted — Sometime ago the writer asked more than a thou- 

 sand of the most successful cattlemen of Missouri, Illinois, and 

 Iowa what was, in their experience, the average gain of yearling 

 and two year old cattle at grass without grain, and the following is 

 a summary of their answers ; 



