CATTLE PRODUCTION 51 



constitute suitable summer feed for fattening- steers. The corn should be 

 soaked 12 to 18 hours and barrels or boxes in which it is soaked kept clean 

 and sweet. 



The following average rations will be suggestive in preparing rations 

 for steers in the feed lot and for securing the most satisfactory results : 



Shocked corn 15 Ibs. 



Clover or alfalfa hay 7 Ibs. 



Ear corn 13 Ibs. 



Oil meal, cotton seed meal or gluten \]/ 2 Ibs. 



Clover or alfalfa hay 9 Ibs. 



Shelled corn 16 Ibs. 



Gluten feed, oil meal or cotton seed meal 3 Ibs. 



Clover or alfalfa hay 8 Ibs. 



Corn and cob meal 20 Ibs. 



Gluten feed, oil meal or cotton seed meal. . . . .. 3 Ibs. 



Getting Steers on Full Feed. The amount of feed supplied all steers 

 must be comparatively small when cattle are first put into the feed lot and 

 the amount gradually increased until they are on full feed. Mumford of Illi- 

 nois recommends that cattle be given all the clover or alfalfa hay they will 

 eat and in addition 2 Ibs. of corn per steer per day to start with. The amount 

 of grain can be increased one pound daily until 10 Ibs. per head daily is 

 reached. After three days increase the daily ration one pound again until 

 17 Ibs. is fed; 15 days later this amount can be increased to 22 Ibs. Cattle 

 getting from 12 to 15 Ibs. of corn daily should have 12 Ibs. of clover or al- 

 falfa hay per 100 Ibs. of live weight. As the amount of grain increases the 

 hay should be reduced to about one-fourth of the ration.- The length of the 

 feeding period should determine how rapidly the ration is increased from 

 day to day. Where .the feeding period is to be 180 days, thirty days to six 

 weeks should elapse before the cattle are on full feed. Judgment on the part 

 of the feeder in watching steers consume the feed from day to day and in 

 watching the condition of the bowels should largely govern the amount of 

 feed supplied. 



Use of the Self-Feeder. The use of the self-feeder offers two advan- 

 tages, it economizes labor and is regarded by some feeders as being more 

 reliable than a careless man who may be entrusted with the work of feed- 

 ing. The self-feeder must be used judiciously, however, to overcome ob- 

 jectionable features incident to its use. Cattle must be accustomed to their 

 grain ration and practically on full feed before being allowed access to the 

 self-feeder. The self-feeder is best adapted to long feeding periods or where 

 cattle are to be fed liberally from three to four months. Watching the self- 

 feeder and the condition of the cattle in addition to the precautions incident 

 to getting them onto full feed, should overcome objections to its use. It has 

 been suggested that the self-feeder may be used to advantage from the start 



