FEEDING BEEF CATTLE 2O3 



Pasture is a splendid food, but high finish is sel- 

 dom possible with it as the exclusive feed. A short 

 period in the feed lot with corn and oil meal or cot- 

 tonseed meal is necessary. Pasture feeding is neces- 

 sary for profitable money returns covering the 

 greater part of the life of the steers. The better the 

 condition when taken from pasture the quicker the 

 steers can be finished, and consequently the greater 

 the profit. 



Even at best, finishing cattle is a risky business 

 and needs to be watched with sharp eyes. But 

 heavy feeding is desirable. To stretch out the fat- 

 tening period is to increase the risk and to lessen 

 the profit unless favored by a rising market. Quick 

 work in the feed lot is usually cheap fattening. 



FROM CALF TO STEER 



Feeding Calves Intended for Beef. Two methods 

 of feeding are open for young calves. One is to al- 

 low the calf to remain with and take its milk from 

 its mother, the other is to remove the calf, substi- 

 tuting skim milk for the whole milk. The latter 

 plan is extending for the reason that butter fat is 

 important, commercially. The skim milk fed calf, 

 while at a disadvantage, can be profitably developed. 

 Excellent substitutes for the fat in the milk are 

 available in the grains and can be secured at a small 

 cost compared with butter fat. 



A calf raised at its mother's side makes rapid 

 growth and at weaning time is in excellent flesh. 

 The skim milk calf is usually not so plump but is 



