COUNSEL IN THE FEED LOT 631 



816. Methods of fattening cattle on pasture. Several different methods 

 are followed by stockmen who fatten cattle on pasture. 17 One group has 

 found it profitable to finish yearlings on bluegrass for late summer and 

 early fall markets. In this system thick, blocky, early-maturing beef 

 calves are wintered so they will gain 150 to 200 Ibs. a head. They are 

 then turned on pasture in spring and are fed a liberal allowance of corn 

 or other concentrates in addition thruout the season. Cattle thus handled 

 should weigh 1,100 to 1,200 Ibs. about the first of October and usually 

 sell at the top of the market. 



Another system quite generally followed is to winter 2-year-old steers 

 on roughage plus a limited amount of concentrates, so that they will go 

 on grass carrying considerable flesh. They usually are fed no grain on 

 pasture until July, after which they are full fed. By the last of Septem- 

 ber or a little later they are marketed as choice corn-fed cattle. Others 

 feed a more liberal amount of grain in winter and full feed grain from 

 the beginning of the pasture season, so the cattle will reach a good 

 finish in late June or early July, before heavy shipments of grass-fat 

 cattle lower the market prices. 



Still another method is to winter cattle on roughage without any grain 

 and graze them on pasture without grain until the pasture begins to fail 

 in the fall. Then the pasture is supplemented by corn and the amount is 

 gradually increased until they are on full feed. Under this system the 

 cattle will reach a high finish by November. Sometimes the cattle are 

 removed to a dry lot about September 1, and fed for 60 to 90 days, thus 

 reaching the market when the supply of fat cattle is usually light and 

 the price consequently good. 



In a few sections where the blue grass pastures are especially luxuriant 

 and nutritious, cattle can be brought to a good finish on pasture without 

 any concentrates, even tho they have been fed only roughages the winter 

 previous. 



817. Hints on fattening cattle on pasture. Care should always be taken 

 in changing cattle from dry lot to pasture, especially where they are in 

 good flesh, else they may not continue to gain or may even shrink 

 severely. As young pasture grass is laxative, if silage or roots have 

 been fed during the winter the allowance should be reduced or entirely 

 withdrawn as soon as the cattle are turned to pasture. Dry roughage 

 which is palatable should be fed during the change, for otherwise the 

 cattle may refuse the dry feed, preferring the grass. "When the cattle 

 are turned to pasture early in the season and there is no dry grass 

 standing over from the preceding fall, it is wise to leave them on pasture 

 for only a short time the first day and increase the period gradually, 

 else severe scouring may result. If grain has been fed during the winter 

 it should be continued until the cattle are accustomed to grass. Where 

 cattle are nearly finished by the time the pasture season opens they had 

 best be finished in the dry lot, for if turned to pasture they will usually 



"Largely adapted from Cochel, Breeder's Gazette, 76, 1919, pp. 307-8. 



