176 



Missouri Agricultural Report. 



common sorts, however, are not worth enough to justify being made 

 thick fat, and must go to market carrying medium flesh if they 

 pay a profit. The beginner, however, is more likely to err in the 

 direction of shipping too early than of carrying his cattle too long. 

 Frequently a six weeks' additional feed will make from 40 cents to 



Fig. 12. Cattle having enough quality to justify being made thick fat. 



60 cents difference in the price of the cattle on the market. On 

 the basis of 1,400 pound steers, this equals from $5.60 to $8.40 

 per head besides the value of the gains made. On the other hand, 

 money is frequently lost by making cattle too thick, especially when 

 they have not the quality to pay for so long a feed. Or, it may 

 happen that the top of the market is not enough above the price 

 commanded by good to choice cattle to pay for making them prime. 

 To top the market and lose money is not profitable. 



RATIONAL SHEEP FEEDING. 



(Frederick B. Mumford, Professor of Animal Husbandry, University of Missouri.) 



In any scheme of stock farm management the rations fed to 

 the domestic animals are an important factor in the final result. 

 This fact has been recognized not only by the practical farmer, but 

 by the Experiment Stations of the United States. This is indicated 

 by the very large number of feeding experiments which have been 

 conducted at these institutions. It is probable that more experi- 

 ments have been conducted in the feeding of farm animals than all 

 other phases of animal production combined. 



