148 LIVE STOCK MANAGEMENT. 



feeder steer may meet these demands there are certain attri- 

 butes which he must possess. First, he must be a good feeder. 

 We like a steer to be able to eat large quantities of food 

 and at the same time make good use of that food in the way 

 of laying on flesh. In the second place, he must possess a 

 strong constitution and have vigorous, stylish, general appear- 

 ance. In the third place he must possess the power of lay- 

 ing on flesh in the valuable parts on the loin, rump, ribs, 

 and rounds. In the fourth place, he must show signs of early 

 maturity. 



The feeder steer has been described already in a pre- 

 vious lecture on "Market Classes and Grades," but on 

 account of its importance it will do no harm to repeat it in 

 this lecture. A low down, blocky form, is always desirable. 

 He should be deep in front and thick through the heart. A 

 wide spring of rib giving a wide back on which to carry 

 high priced meat. The rib should be round and deep, giving 

 the steer a roomy middle. If there is one thing to avoid in 

 a feeder steer it is that of a small, tucked-up abdomen. He 

 must have sufficient room for large digestive organs. The 

 loin should be wide and deeply laid on with muscles. The 

 hooks should be wide apart, but should lack any undue prom- 

 inence. A long, level rump, with heavily muscled, wide, 

 thick hindquarters, and a low twist. A short, broad head, 

 with large, mild, bright eye, large muzzle and mouth, a 

 heavily muscled under jaw, a short, thick, smoothly blended 

 neck, a big heart girth and roomy chest and low down hind 

 flank, all go with a good vigorous feeder. With this form 

 he should possess general refinement, which is indicated by 

 a clean cut head, free from meatiness and puffiness. A fine 

 flat horn, rather than one that is round and stubby; smoothly 

 laid shoulders without either sharpness about the bones and 

 joints of the legs. In addition to this he should be a supe- 

 rior "handler;" i. e., his skin should be loose, mellow and 

 pliable to the touch, and he should be thickly clad with a 

 soft, silky, furry coat of hair. He should have an abund- 

 ance of natural flesh or muscle along the back and loin, 

 about the hindquarters, over the shoulders and down the 

 ribs, and this should be mellow to the touch. 



A feeder of this sort should give the very best returns 

 in a feed lot, so far as early maturity and economy of gain 



