SELECTION OF FEEDER STEERS. 147 



hope to increase the value of the whole carcass; i. e., we 

 aim to convert the 1,000-lbs. steer into a 1,350- It) s. prime 

 steer, and in doing this, make the whole carcass worth at 

 least 1% cents more per pound than when purchased for the 

 feed lot. There are several other items which may enter in 

 as profit to the steer feeder. A large amount of manure is 

 secured and thus increased fertility. A home market is 

 made for roughage and grains; and the manufactured pro- 

 duct, the beef animal, can be more easily and economically 

 transported to market. Then, too, there is employment for 

 labor which would perhaps otherwise have to be left unem- 

 ployed. The first two, however, are the important factors 

 in determining profit, and these are on such a narrow mar- 

 gin that they must be carefully looked after. 



The buyer going out to purchase steers to put into the 

 feed lot must have before him an ideal which he seeks to 

 place on the market, and this ideal should be the prime or 

 choice bullock. He has in his mind's eye a low down, 

 blocky. deep, thick set animal with straight top and under- 

 line, a wide spring of rib giving a wide back, a wide, deep 

 loin, with good width between the hooks, a long, level rump, 

 and deep, thick hindquarters, with low down twist and inside 

 muscled to hock. This finished steer should possess a gen- 

 eral refinement in his whole make-up. He should be smooth 

 and fine about the head, which should be short and broad. 

 The neck should be short, thick and evenly blended with the 

 shoulders. The shoulders should be full and compact on 

 top and the hooks and pins should be snugly hidden away. 

 His legs should be short and fine, with no coarseness at the 

 joints. The flesh should be on evenly on all parts. With 

 all this refinement there should be no paunchiness. This 

 goes under the head of general quality, but in addition to 

 this the prime steer must possess what is termed ''handling 

 quality," which is indicated by a soft furry coat of hair, a 

 mellow, pliable skin, and firm, mellow flesh. This is the 

 prime steer which the feeder would seek to place upon the 

 market in order to secure the highest price going, and in 

 order that he may accomplish his desires the buyer must seek 

 to obtain for him the raw material in the shape of feeders 

 from which this sort can be made. He must secure such as 

 will put on flesh rapidly and economically. In order that the 



