CATTLE PRODUCTION 49 



only produces the best quality of beef, but the highest percentage of dressed 

 carcass and commands the highest market price. It requires experience to 

 feed and finish steers that will top the market and at the same time be most 

 profitable. Not infrequently does the feeder of beef cattle realize greater profits 

 on feeding cattle of the commoner grades and classes than he does on feeding 

 better cattle. 



Advantages In Finished Cattle. There are three reasons for feeding 

 and producing a finished condition of the steer. It increases the percentage of 

 dressed carcass, renders the beef most tender and juicy and insures its curing 

 properly when hung in the cooler. The evidences of steers being finished in 

 the feed lot are fullness at the throat, well covered shoulder points, thickness 

 of the flank and a full purse or scrotum. When cattle approach this condition, 

 quotations should be watched and the cattle disposed of at the most opportune 

 time. The amount of feed required for producing a pound of beef increases as 

 the feeding period advances and one cannot afford to feed finished cattle except 

 to secure an advance in the market price. 



The Feeding Margin. The difference between the cost price per 100 Ibs. 

 and the selling price per 100 Ibs. is known as the margin. Without a sufficient 

 margin it is impossible to make a profit in fattening steers or to secure market 

 prices for feed supplied to them. Ordinarily 800 to l,ooo Ibs. of concentrated 

 feed is necessary to produce 100 Ibs. of meat. The cost of producing gains at 

 this rate, makes it evident that in order to secure a profit, there must be a con- 

 siderable margin between the cost and the selling prices. The following factors 

 influence the necessary margin in fattening cattle: 



Distance necessary to ship cattle to and from feed lots. 

 Shrinkage in cattle during shipments. 

 Expenses incident to buying, selling and shipping. 

 Losses which may result by accident or disease. 

 Prices for feeds and cost of producing gains. 



Other Conditions Influencing Margin. The class of cattle fed have an 

 influence on the margin required as does also the season of the year and the 

 character of the winter months. A wider margin is necessary in winter than 

 in summer because the cost of gains at this season is greater. Young cattle 

 are fed more economically than are mature cattle and may be fed on nar- 

 rower margins. 



A uniformly good class of feeder steers can be fed on a narrower mar- 

 gin than a poorer class of feeders, when both classes are relatively high. In 

 some instances, however, poor feeders are relatively lower in price than the 

 difference between their quality and the quality of a better class of feeders 

 would warrant, and under such conditions one may sometimes secure a bet- 

 ter margin and greater profits in feeding such classes. Margin must neces- 

 sarily increase as the length of the feeding period and the cost of feeding 

 increases. The heavier the cattle fed the less the margin must necessarily 

 be. It is evident that the necessary margin will vary under different condi- 

 tions of time and circumstance. By taking into account all the items of cost 



