42 RATE OF GAIN. 



1894, also show that the rate of gain decreases with age. 

 The difference is as follows: 



Average Age of All First Prize Average Gain per 



Winners for 15 Yrs. Day from Birth. 



Yearling class 652 days 2.12 pounds- 



2-year-old class 968 days 1.81 pounds. 



3-year-old class 1,341 days 1.56 pounds. 



The foregoing shows what a difference age has on 

 economy and rate of gain, and the experience of all practical 

 feeders is in agreement with this, save in cases of a short 

 feed, when mature steers, in but moderate condition, may be 

 expected to give most rapid gains; but such gains are never 

 so economical as in the case of the younger animals, and the 

 time of feed is necessarily short. 



Individual excellence in the animal, is the most import- 

 ant consideration in choosing steers for the feed-lot. 



This has already been discussed to some extent under 

 stockers and feeders, and it is unnecessary to repeat here^ 

 save to call attention to the fact that the deep-bodied, low- 

 set, broad-backed steers, with an abundance of quality, are 

 the ones that place their meat in the region of valuable cuts, 

 and dress out a high percentage of edible meat. So far as 

 economy, rate of gain, and value of finished product is con- 

 cerned, good and choice feeders are the only ones that should 

 be purchased, but market conditions are sometimes such as 

 to render the cheaper grades more profitable feeders. This 

 is too complicated a subject to be dealt with in the present 

 work, but it should be noted that the difference between buy- 

 ing and selling prices increases as the grade of stock be- 

 comes lower. That is, in feeding inferior feeders they must 

 be sold for a greater advance over cost, to enable the feeder 

 to come out even, than when choice feeders are used. 



Summary. 



Young animals make most rapid and economical gains. 

 Those under 15 months and weighing less than 800 pounds, 

 however, can usually be handled more profitably as stockers. 

 In buying feeders the most desirable ones, from the stand- 

 point of economy and rapidity of gain, are those that show 



