526 FEEDS AND FEEDING 



seem probable that the premium will be correspondingly large for the 

 cattle of better quality when they are fattened, the commoner grade had 

 better be purchased. On the other hand, the fact must always be taken 

 into consideration that the better-bred animals will usually make some- 

 what more economical gains. 



By following the various market reports for preceding years, one 

 can tell approximately when his cattle can be marketed to greatest ad- 

 vantage. The steers should then be fed so as to be finished at that time. 

 "When the steers are ready for market, it is usually not advisable to 

 hold them for better prices unless they continue to make gains at a 

 reasonable cost. The extra feed consumed by finished cattle will soon 

 more than offset any ordinary increase in price that may be obtained. 

 When the cattle are almost finished, the owner should watch the market 

 reports and find out from his commission man the best date for shipment. 



810. Regularity and quiet. On these important points in fattening 

 cattle, Mumford writes: 6 



"As soon as the fattening process begins, the cattle should be fed at 

 certain hours and in the same way. This cannot be varied 15 minutes 

 without some detriment to the cattle. The extent of injury will depend 

 upon the frequency and extent of irregularity. . .The even-tempered 

 attendant who is quiet in manner and movement invariably proves 

 more satisfactory than the erratic, bustling, noisy one. The cattle 

 soon learn to have confidence in the former and welcome his coming 

 among them, while they are always suspicious of the latter, never 

 feeling quite at ease when he is in sight. Under the management of 

 the former, the cattle become tame and quiet, even tho more or less 

 wild at the outset; while under the latter, wild cattle become wilder 

 and tame cattle become timid. The writer has observed a wide difference 

 in practice among feeders as to their manner of approaching fattening 

 steers. Some are brusque in manner, rushing up to the steers and 

 scaring them up quickly, while other (and I am bound to say more 

 successful) feeders approach the cattle with the greatest care and 

 consideration, getting the cattle up, if at all, as quietly as possible. 

 Pastures for cattle in quiet, secluded places are more valuable for fatten- 

 ing cattle than are those adjacent to the public roads or adjoining pas- 

 tures where horses or breeding cattle run/' (112) 



811. The eye of the master. There is so much truth in the old saying, 

 1 1 The eye of the master fattens his cattle, ' ' that this adage has appeared 

 on the title page of each edition of this book for the past 24 years. In all 

 phases of animal husbandry the discernment of a good stockman is 

 essential for real success. Being versed in the science of stock feeding is 

 not enough. For the greatest profits not only must one feed his stock 

 economical and well-balanced rations, but also he must have the watch- 

 ful eye and good judgment of a true stockman. Fortunately, the suc- 

 cessful methods of live stock care and management are not complicated 



6 Beef Production, pp. 92-3. 



