TYPES AND MARKET CLASSES OF LIVE STOCK 99 



8. The increase in live weight necessary to make calves 

 prime was 103 per cent.; yearlings, 54 per cent.; and two-year- 

 olds 43.6 per cent, of their initial weights at the beginning of 

 the feeding period. 



9. The difference in cost of one hundred pounds of gain 

 between calves and yearlings was $1.35 in favor of the calves; 

 between yearlings and two-year-olds, 28 cents in favor of the 

 yearlings. 



10. The experienced farmer who feeds cattle should handle 

 older cattle in preference to calves, while the farmer who pro- 

 duces and finishes his own cattle may find calves profitable. 



The Missouri Experiment Station* drew the following con- 

 clusions from feeding 300 cattle of various ages on heavy grain 

 rations in connection with bluegrass pasture: 



1. Two-year-old cattle make larger average daily gains 

 than yearlings. 



2. Two-year-old cattle consumed from 13 to 22 per cent, 

 more grain per day per head than did yearlings. 



3. Two-year-old cattle consumed more grain per day per 

 thousand pounds live weight than yearlings. 



4. Yearlings require less grain for each pound of gain than 

 do two- or three-year-old cattle. Other things being equal, the 

 younger the animal, the less grain is required to make a pound 

 of gain. The condition of the animal at the beginning of the 

 feeding period is an important factor, and may to a large extent 

 counteract the influence of age in determining cheaper gains. 



5. In these investigations, the fattening of two- and three- 

 year-old cattle has been generally more profitable than fatten- 

 ing yearlings. The chief reasons are: 



(a) The margin between the buying and selling price is 

 less in the case of yearlings. The older cattle fatten in a shorter 

 period. 



(b) It is not generally advisable to try to finish the cheaper 

 grades of yearlings. In our investigations, the quality of the 

 yearlings has generally been higher than that of the older cattle. 

 In spite of this fact, the financial results have seemed to favor 

 the feeding of older cattle. 



When all evidence as to the comparative merits of calves, 

 yearlings, and older cattle for feeding purposes is summed up, 

 the outstanding points are as follows: 



* Mo. Bui. 90. 



