260 



PRODUCTIVE FEEDING OF FARM ANIMALS 



the following table for gain for steers of different ages, and also 

 for the gain for each successive group: 



Relation of Age to Weight and Daily Gain of Steers 



The figures show a decided decrease in the rate of daily gain 

 with increasing age of the steers, and also a still more marked de- 

 crease in the gain for each period, viz., from 2.63 pounds for the 

 calves to 0.87 pound for the last year of the three-year-olds. 



The results given in the last two tables were obtained with 



FIG. 60. The amount of grain required to produce a hundred pounds of gain in 

 fattening steers increases with the range of the feeding period from about 730 pounds to 

 1000 pounds. (Kansas Station.) 



cattle of the specific beef breeds and of choice individuals within 

 these breeds. They are, therefore, higher than are likely to obtain 

 with steers of poorer breeding and fed less intensively (Fig. 60). 

 The percentage dressed weight of cattle in thin body flesh will 

 generally come from 54 to 58 per cent, and for fattening steers 58 

 to 65 per cent or better, according to the breed and degree of finish. 

 The percentage dressed weight of steers but rarely exceeds 70 per 

 cent. 



