FEEDING BEEF CATTLE 275 



and 15 pounds alfalfa hay per head daily, and will gain about two 

 pounds a day on this feed (p. 194). 



Beef Production in Eastern and Southern States. While the 

 West and Southwest supply the bulk of the beef cattle in this 

 country, a large number of cattle are being fattened every year in 

 the eastern and southern States. The cattle industry is especially 

 of increasing importance in the latter section. The South has 

 many advantages for beef production, as, in fact, for animal hus- 

 bandry in general. Forage crops of a great variety suited for 

 cattle feeding can be produced cheaply and abundantly there, and 

 the favorable winter climate reduces the cost of investment in 

 buildings and equipment for cattle feeding. Excellent forage crops, 

 like alfalfa, cowpeas, velvet beans, sorghum, soybeans, etc., together 

 with cotton-seed meal, are the main feeds which will enable southern 

 f aimers to raise and fatten beef cattle cheaply and which will lead to 

 a gradual development of the cattle industry in the South. The 

 danger of Texas fever is one of disadvantages. Large areas are, 

 however, gradually being freed from the tick that causes this dis- 

 ease, and the time is probably not far distant when the whole South 

 will be free of the tick. 22 



Rations for Steers. The following sample rations will show 

 the kinds and amounts of feeding stuffs that may be fed to fattening 

 steers per 1000 pounds live weight : 



1. 10 pounds clover hay, 15 pounds corn, 3 pounds cotton-seed meal. 



2. 5 pounds clover hay, 5 pounds corn stover, 20 pounds corn. 



3. 10 pounds alfalfa hay, 15 pounds corn, 2 pounds linseed meal. 



4. 10 pounds alfalfa hay, 18 pounds corn. 



5. 25 pounds corn silage, 10 pounds mixed hay, 10 pounds shelled corn, 

 2 pounds cotton-seed meal. 



6. 15 pounds mixed hay, 10 pounds snapped corn. 



7. 25 pounds cotton-seed hulls, 6^4 pounds cotton-seed meal. 



8. 20 pounds corn silage, 10 pounds clover hay, 8 pounds barley. 



9. 15 pounds kafir corn, 12 pounds cotton-seed hulls, 3 pounds cotton- 

 seed meal. 



10. 20 pounds alfalfa hay, 5 pounds oat straw, 6 pounds barley. 



11. 30 pounds corn silage, 5 pounds mixed hay, 10 pounds corn. 



12. 60 pounds corn silage, 1 pound cotton-seed meal. 



QUESTIONS 



1. What are the two systems of feeding beef cattle in this country? State 



the advantages and disadvantages of each one. 



2. What is the average composition of the increase in fattening steers? 



3. Why are the Wolff-Lehmann standards for fattening steers not reliable 



guides ? 



4. What is the law in regard to the relation of age and weight of fatten- 



ing steers to the (a) daily gains, (6) per cent dressed weight? 



22 Farmers' Bulletins 580, 588. 



