FEEDING BEEF CATTLE 



263 



fattening cattle in summer, in case' of feeders in the Mississippi 

 valley, and that a margin of $1.50 per hundredweight is necessary 

 for six months' winter feeding with two-year-olds. Data obtained 

 by the Purdue (Indiana) station in the same way showed that an 

 average spread of $1.07 was required to break even under Indiana 

 conditions, and that it cost cattle men in that State $4.80 per 

 hundredweight gains in summer and $7.20 for gains in winter. 



Length of Feeding Period. This will vary from sixty days 

 to a year, according to a -number of conditions, as kind of stock, 

 cost of feed, and market conditions. The various factors affecting 

 the length of the fattening period are succinctly stated as follows 



FIG. 61. Tennessee steers in the feed lot. (Tennessee Station.) 



by Mumford. 11 " The principal factors affecting the length of the 

 feeding period are : Method of feeding, grade, condition, and age 

 of feeding cattle used. 



"'Method of Feeding. Where it is desired to feed a ration in 

 which there is a large proportion of roughage to grain, the fatten- 

 ing process is slow. On the other hand, the feeding of large pro- 

 portions of grain to roughage, or, in other words, the feeding of 

 a highly-concentrated ration, usually shortens the fattening period. 

 Forced feeding on highly-concentrated rations required for quick 

 finish is, of course, more hazardous than the longer feeding period 

 with the more bulky ration. A compromise between the two some- 

 what radical methods has been practised with excellent results. 

 This compromise method is as follows: For winter fattening 



11 " Beef Production," p. 100. 



