35 



At the Central and Nappan Farms, steers two years old have made 

 the most rapid and profitable gains. While at that age they have 

 reached the stage of sufficient maturity to appropriate a good portion 

 of their food to fattening, they are still making fairly rapid growth of 

 frame and muscle. At Brandon and Indian Head, cattle purchased 

 when a year old proved the most profitable feeders. This was espe- 

 cially marked with cattle fed during the winter at Brandon in the open 

 air with only a thicket of trees for shelter. 



For a number of years, a study of the influence of age on the cost 

 of making gains, or increasing the weight of steers, was under inves- 



Baby beeves. 



tigation. These experiments have shown a fairly regular gradation 

 of cost according to age, that is, the older the animal and the longer on 

 feed, the more expensive it is to make a pound of increase in weight. 

 The cost per 100 Ibs. has ranged about as follows: 



From birth to 6 months $2.24 



From 6 to 12 months $4.11 



From i to 2 years $5-49 



From 2\ years to 3 years $6.17 



From 3^ to 4 years $7-97 



In the fattening period, it was found that early gains are much 

 more cheaply put in than later gains, but it is the finishing or later 

 gains that raise the selling price per pound. 



Experiments in housing have involved feeding animals when loose 

 and tied, in roomy quarters and in cramped quarters and in stables well 

 ventilated and poorly ventilated. It has been found that steers do 

 better loose than tied, in groups not more than seven or eight head 

 of about equal size and strength, allowing each animal about 70 square 



328803! 



