Feed and Management of Fattening Cattle. 391 



ruary, until the following December, at which time they averaged 

 eleven months old. These calves received most of their dam's 

 milk until six or seven months old. Mr. Harris calculates that 

 they consumed 



20 bushels of ear corn, worth $5 



1,000 pounds of bran, worth 6 



300 pounds of oil meal, worth 3 



Total costof grain $14 



In addition they had pastures and what hay they would eat, 

 valued at $4. These calves weighed from 910 to 920 pounds 

 each at eleven months and sold from $3.80 to $5 per hundred, 

 which returns are certainly satisfactory when the short time for 

 turning the capital involved is considered. All farmers are not 

 in position to follow such forcing methods as these, yet it is well to 

 bear this extreme example in mind, and consider whether or not 

 the results cannot be approximated if not actually attained. 



599. Low-pressure feeding. Under the system just recom- 

 mended, much costly concentrated feed is required. There are 

 farms on which the high-pressure system is not advisable, but 

 where cattle may be profitably fed by following an almost oppo- 

 site method. On farms where there are large quantities of hay, 

 straw and corn forage, together with ample pastures, it is possi- 

 ble to practice a system which utilizes all these, reserving most of 

 the grain grown for use during the final fattening period. Under 

 this system the calves designed ultimately for beef are fed a small 

 amount of grain only during the first year, receiving an abun- 

 dance of roughage in winter and running on good pastures in sum- 

 mer. Such stock should more than hold its weight in winter and 

 gain heavily on the pastures in summer. Heavy feeding with 

 grain begins when the steers are two years old. Well-bred steers 

 from 30 to 36 months old raised in this manner, fed grain in quantity 

 only during the last five or six months, should weigh from 1,300 

 to 1,500 pounds a size ample for market demands. 



600. The feed lot. Dry, protected yards, with sheds on the 

 windward side under which the animals may lie in comfort, form 

 the ideal place for steer feeding. To keep the steer stanchioned 

 or confined by a rope in the stable entails useless labor on the 



