PROGRESSIVE BEEF CATTLE RAISING 



Other classes of feeders and stackers grade as shown 

 in the next table, their differences between grades approxi- 

 mating that shown in the foregoing. 



Class Grades Weights 



Yearling steers. . .Choice, good, fair, common 500-650 



Stocker steers. .. .Fancy selected, choice, good, fair, 



common 600-800 



Feeding heifers . .Yearlings, choice, good, fair, range 600-800 



Feeding cows. . . .Choice, good, fair, plain 650-850 



Springer cows Good, fair 750-900 



Springer heifers. .Good, fair 700-800 



Feeder bulls Choice, good, fair 800-1 100 



In January, 1922, feeder steers brought about 25 to 

 50 cents per cwt. more in the corresponding grades than 

 yearlings, due to their ability to finish faster, while stack- 

 ers sold 25 cents to a dollar lower than feeders. Heifers in 

 corresponding grades brought 75 cents more than cows, 

 while feeder bulls were generally listed about the same as 

 feeder cows. 



In the early days of the cattle industry, feeder and 

 stocker values were set by subtracting the cost of feeding 

 from finished cattle, but as the demand for dressed beef 

 raised the prices of unfinished animals, the margin on 

 which the feeder operates no longer has any relation to 

 the cost of finishing, but is determined by the value of 

 the unfed animal for killing purposes. The feeder 

 buyer frequently finds competition on the highest type of 

 feeder cattle because a limited sale demand exists for just 

 such cuts as the raw feeder produces. The fact that a 

 certain percentage of this type of animals can be used 

 for beef, particularly in the face of market scarcity, has 

 led to a competition with feeder buyers, that has been 

 difficult for them to understand. Many have interpreted 

 this competition to mean that finished cattle are no 

 longer desired, but this is by no means true, since the 

 market can handle only a limited portion of unfinished 

 cattle of this character. 



Page Sixty-seven 



