TYPES AND MARKET CLASSES OF LIVE STOCK 97 



The difference between the cost price and selling price per 

 pound is spoken of as the "margin." The steer feeder counts 

 on at least 2 cents per pound margin, and when cattle and feed- 

 stuffs are very high in price a greater margin is necessary. As 

 shown by the above calculation, heavy cattle may be handled 

 on narrower margins than light ones, for if the initial weight of 

 the steer had been 600 pounds instead of 1000 pounds, other 

 factors remaining the same, then the net income would have 

 been less by $8.00. As a matter of fact, however, the younger 

 steer would probably make his 325 pounds of gain somewhat 

 cheaper than the older steer, thus compensating, in part at 

 least, the advantage of the older animal. 



Success in fattening cattle requires a thorough knowledge 

 of two classes of cattle fat steers of the better grades, and 

 stockers and feeders, the beginning and the end of the feeding 

 process. The cattle feeder must be an expert judge of a thin 

 animal, as well as a good judge of the finished product. "Well 

 bought is half sold." Failure to select the right kind of steers 

 for feeding is alone sufficient to cause failure in the business. 

 The cattle feeder must have a good knowledge of the values of 

 the various, grades of feeders, and must use judgment as to 

 whether or not to buy, and if he buys it is again a matter of 

 judgment as to which grade of feeders may be purchased, fed, 

 and sold with the greatest profit. The actual buying, however, 

 is usually put in the hands of a commission firm; such firms 

 also freely and intelligently advise the purchaser concerning 

 the matters here discussed. 



The points which determine the value of feeder steers are 

 age and weight, form, quality, constitution and thrift, natural 

 fleshing, condition, breeding, disposition, style, and uniformity. 

 Each of these is briefly discussed. 



1. Age and weight. Calves and yearlings require a longer 

 feeding period, as a rule, than two- or three-year-old steers. 

 This is due to the fact that young animals grow while they fatten, 

 and hence fatten more slowly than older animals. Most cattle 

 feeders prefer two- and three-year-old steers for feeding pur- 

 poses, and this is especially true where a "short feed" of from 

 60 to 90 days is given. For the "long feed" of 120 to 180 days or 

 more, calves and yearlings may be satisfactory if carefully 

 selected and properly handled. Some feeders prefer the older 

 steers even for the longer feed. The common practice is to 

 buy feeders that weigh from 900 to 1000 pounds, or even heavier. 



