Factors in Steer Feeding. 



367 



each daily. Commenting on the result they write: "A chang- 

 ing period is a losing period, if the change is radical." 



These trials accord with the experience of stockmen, who find 

 it unsatisfactory to change wholly or nearly finished cattle from 

 one set of conditions to another, no matter what the new con- 

 ditions. "When steers are to be sold at no distant date. It is best 

 to continue them under the existing system of feed and confine- 

 ment, rather than change to new conditions, even though the latter 

 may appear more favorable. 



563. Effect of age on rate of gain. — The daily rate of gain with 

 cattle on full feed is directly affected by the age of the animal. 

 This is illustrated by the records of the fat-stock shows. Some 

 of the results obtained in England are shown in the following 

 table: 



Age and weight of steers slaughtered at the Smithfield {England) Fat- 

 Stock Show, 1888-95. ^ 



Short-horn. 



1 year old 



2 years old 



3 years old 



Hereford. 



1 year old 



2 years old , 



3 years old 



Devon. 



1 year old 



2 years old 



3 years old 



A bcrdeen-A ngus. 



1 year old 



2 years old 



3 years old 



Sussex. 



1 year old 



2 years old 



3 years old 



Red Polled. 



2 years old 



3 years old 



Oalloway. 



2 years old 



3 years old 



meat to 

 live wt. 



Per cent. 



66.13 



67.48 



65.08 

 67.15 

 69.18 



66.01 

 67.73 

 67.32 



65.87 

 66.67 

 67,39 



65.42 

 68.18 

 67.98 



65.73 

 65.77 



64.45 

 64.84 



^ Reported annually in the Live Stock Journal and Agricultural 

 Gazette, Loudon. 



