PROGRESSIVE BEEF CATTLE RAISING 



For a period of eight years, the average monthly varia- 

 tion in the market weights of cattle at the Chicago 

 market, is shown in the following table: 



Lbs. Lbs. 



January 987 July 983 



February 992 August 980 



March 985 September 957 



April 1009 October 951 



May 996 November 965 



June 1005 December 969 



It will be seen that April and June are the periods for 

 heavy cattle, when the winter feeding season is closing, 

 while September and October have the light cattle, due 

 to the run of feeders and grass stock. The average weight 

 for the eight years is 981 Ibs. 



Because prices are higher at this 

 The Problem of time does not necessarily mean that 

 Marketing Beef the farmer feeder will get greater 

 in All Seasons profits. Beef production depends on 

 the annual cycle of the year, since 

 steers fatten on the crops that mature during the year, 

 but meat is eaten on the daily cycle based on the frequency 

 with which man gets hungry. It therefore happens that 

 the bulk of the cattle come on the market in the months 

 September to February, after they have eaten the crops of 

 the preceding season. Man's appetite runs throughout 

 the year, however, and if he is to be assured a supply of 

 meat at all times, someone must carry the cost of holding 

 either animals or meat over to the leaner months. If the 

 animal is killed the market must absorb the cost of han- 

 dling or storing ; if it is held over for better prices the feeder 

 must pay this cost in feed, equipment and maintenance. 

 It therefore becomes an individual problem for each farmer 

 to determine, whether the additional costs of carrying his 



Page Fifty-five 



