150 LIVE STOCK MANAGEMENT. 



in acquiring an appetite for the new foods which are sup- 

 plied in the feed lot. 



Where one has a large amount of roughage to utilize, it 

 might be necessary to buy an older, larger animal to place 

 in the feed lot. It must be noted, however, that the day of 

 the heavyweight four or five year old steer is past. The 

 demand now is for the "handy weight" steer, weighing from 

 1,350 to 1,450 Ibs. The quicker he can be produced the 

 better it is for both the producer and the consumer. We 

 have discussed at some length the kind of steer to buy, but 

 we should know as well when and how to buy him. As to 

 when we shall buy him will depend largely upon conditions. 

 We usually buy when we are ready to handle them. The 

 market, too, will have something to do with time of buying. 

 The important matter is not so much when we "buy as what 

 we pay for our feeders. Much of the money lost in steer 

 feeding has been lost because of injudicious buying. There 

 was a time when we were sure of a good advance on the 

 buying price when the selling time came, but we can no 

 longer count on that. The steer feeder in order to insure 

 himself against loss should count on at least 1^ cents 

 advance on the buying price, and if feed stuffs are high, he 

 should count on not less than 2 cents advance. In order to 

 be sure of this advance, he must buy around 3 to 3%. Last 

 year (1902) beef was high and many feeders made good 

 money feeding steers. This caused large numbers to rush 

 into steer feeding during the winter of 1902-3. Many 

 paid over 4 cents for their stock. Corn became high in 

 price. Large numbers of animals placed on the market 

 made beef low and the feeders could realize no gains. Many 

 experienced serious losses. The man who would make a 

 success of buying and feeding must read carefully the signs 

 of the times. He should study well the local and market 

 conditions, and if these are not favorable, he should stay 

 out of the business until they are. 



When buying, one should discriminate very seriously 

 against stunted steers that have been starved when young 

 things. These never do well and will be a source of con- 

 stant annoyance in the feed lot as well as a profit stealer 

 when the final balance is struck. 



