310 REPORT OF THE COMMISSIONER OF AGRICULTURE. 



first year, and the third year 50 per cent, more than the second year. 

 This, then, explains the reason of the increased cost of putting on live 

 weight as the animal grows older and heavier. And if this be a law of 

 nature, it certainly behooves the cattle-feeder to take note of it, and 

 regulate hia system in harmony with it. If, then, the cost of growing 

 beef constantly increases with the age and weight of the animal, it must 

 follow that economy requires that the animal should be sold at the 

 earliest period of maturity suited to the requirements of the market. 

 This period is indicated at two years; and well-grown animals intended 

 for beef should not be kept beyond this period, except when an unfavor- 

 able market requires it. 



COST OF A TWO-YEAR-OLD STEER. 



Having been driven by carefully-tried experiments to the conclusion 

 that profit can only be expected from full feeding under the system of 

 early maturity, and that to carry out this system to the best advantage 

 the animals should be raised and finished for the butcher upon the same 

 farm, I propose, in conclusion, to examine the real margin for profit 

 under this best system. 



Let us take the average gain of good thrifty calves fed upon 20 pounds 

 per day of skim-milk for the first ninety days, with an average of one 

 half i^ound of flaxseed and one pound of wheat-middlings or oat-meal 

 after thfi first ten days, giving much less at first, but increasing it to 

 that amount ; and the second three months, 10 pounds of milk, 1 pound 

 of oil-meal, and li pounds of middlings per day, with pasture. The cost, 

 then, of the first six months will be, for milk, 2,700 pounds, at ^ cent, 

 $6.75; 30 pounds flaxseed, 90 cents; 91 pounds oil-meal, $1.82; 272 

 pounds middlings, $2.04 ; 100 pounds hay during first ninety days, 50 

 cents ; pasture three mouths, at 15 cents per week, 81.87 ; in all, 813.88. 

 With this feed the calves should average 500 pounds' weight at six 

 months. 



The second six months it will require 10 pounds of hay per day, or 1,820 

 pounds, 89.10; 182 y)ounds of oil-meal, $3.64; three pounds per day of 

 middlings, 546 pounds, at $15 per ton, $4.10, amounting to $16.84; and 

 the gain should to be 2^ pounds per daj', or 410 pounds, averaging at one* 

 year old 910 pounds, costing $30.72. 



The second summer, pasture at 30 cents per week will cost $7.80; 

 three pounds per day of niiddling.s, or oats, $4.10; total, $11.90. The 

 second wintor he will require 15 pounds of hay per day, or 2,730 pounds, 

 $13.65; 6 pounds of corn-meal, $10.42; 4 j^ounds bran per day, $5.46 — 

 $16.38 ; total cost of second year $41.93. The steer will gain an average 

 of 1^ pounds per day, or 547 pounds, weigLing at two years old 1,457 

 pounds. This steer will cost at our hgures, at two years old, 872.65, 

 and such rapidly-matured steers will always bring, in tliis Stat*) at least, 

 0^ cents, or $94.70. This would leave a profit of $22.05. But it must 

 be remembered that we have estimated for the most expensive food and 

 for feeding wholly on hay as fodder. It must also be remembered that 

 although $72.65 may be considered a great price for a two-year-old steer 

 to cost, yet it is made up of the products of the farm all estimated, and 

 that the steer will pay a handsome profit upon that, while the ordinary 

 steer will cost two-thirds as much and not bring in market more than 

 one-third the price. I have raised calves upon the food here estimated, 

 and at a cost of only $25 for the first year, weighing 900 pounds, sub- 

 stituting straw for half of the hay. 



Another formula for raising good calves and steers is as follows : The 



