536 FEEDS AND FEEDING 



stitueiits in the feeds used in fattening cattle may be recovered in the 

 manure, if proper care is taken of this valuable by-product. 



The probable cost of fattening cattle on various rations may therefore 

 be estimated approximately from the extensive data in the previous 

 chapters, showing the feed required for 100 Ibs. gain under various 

 conditions and with different feeds. It should be borne in mind that 

 most of the trials reviewed were carried on with cattle of good quality, 

 fed first-class feed under expert supervision. Under farm conditions 

 quite commonly slightly more feed will be required for 100 Ibs. gain 

 than was needed in these trials, due chiefly to poorer quality of feeds or 

 of animals. 



In an extensive survey of fattening beef cattle on corn in Indiana, 

 Illinois, Iowa, Nebraska, and Missouri, including data on 34,934 cattle, 

 the United States Department of Agriculture 24 found that the cattle 

 averaged 786 Ibs. when placed on feed, were fed for 174 days on the 

 average, and made average daily gains of 1.63 Ibs. and an average total 

 gain of 284 Ibs. during the feeding period. For each 100 Ibs. gain there 

 were required 680 Ibs. grain, chiefly corn, 62 Ibs. commercial concen- 

 trates, chiefly linseed and cottonseed meal, 391 Ibs. hay and other dry 

 roughage, 863 Ibs. silage, and 20 days of pasturage. 



Wilcox 25 found that in making each 100 Ibs. gain there were required 

 4.5 hours man labor and 3.0 hours horse labor in feeding operations cover- 

 ed by this survey. As by-products to offset the labor and other incidental 

 operating costs there were produced for each 100 Ibs. gain 1.3 loads of 

 manure and 27.1 Ibs. of pork. 



Where the feeding equipment is convenient it may be safely estimated 

 that a man and team can care for and feed 200 cattle, together with the 

 pigs following. 26 This includes not only feeding the grain, but also 

 hauling hay or other roughage to the feed lot from nearby stacks or 

 mows, providing bedding, attending to water, and looking after the 

 wants of steers affected with injuries, lump-jaw, lice, and itch, etc. 



"Black, U. S. Dept. Agr. Farmers' Bui. 1,218. 

 ^Jour. Farm Economics, 3, 1921, pp. 62-72. 

 86 Mumford, Beef Production, pp. 33-4. 



