CATTLE PRODUCTION 53 



taining them in good condition. Steers in a muddy condition do not command 

 the best prices on the market. Grading the yard in a manner to control the 

 water that comes in contact with it, will be helpful and should be done 

 whether the lots are paved or not. 



General Care of Fattening Cattle. The operation of fattening cattle 

 should not be regarded as an easy task. The feeder has many details to keep 

 in mind. Excitement prevents cattle from making the largest gains and the 

 feeder should endeavor to do everything possible to keep cattle in a quiet 

 condition. Successful feeders endeavor to gain the confidence of cattle in 

 charge and do their work with the regularity that does not disturb them 

 from their usual habits of eating and resting. The majority of cattle feeders 

 feed cattle grain and roughage twice a day in winter and under summer con- 

 ditions grain once a day. Steers may run in bunches of 100, although it may 

 be more convenient to feed and handle them in groups of 50 which will 

 require three fee^d bunks, 3 feet wide and 15 feet long. The size and age of 

 the cattle would affect the number most conveniently fed in a given yard. 



Salt and Water for Fattening Cattle. Cattle should have free access to 

 salt, and pure, clean water supplied in the feed lot. Advantages in feeding 

 dehorned cattle make it desirable to have cattle of the stocker and feeder 

 types dehorned prior to being put into the feed lot. A difference of lOc 

 to 25c per hundredweight is frequently made, due to the presence of horns. 

 The shrinkage in weight during shipment is also less with dehorned cattle 

 and as a rule they are quieter and subject to few bruises. 



Grooming Fattening Cattle. Some cattle feeders advocate grooming 

 fattening cattle. The practice is not generally considered a necessary one, 

 however, for best results. Only in the case of carload lots of show cattle 

 can it be generally recommended. It is desirable, however, to have posts 

 or other arrangements that will enable cattle to rub and thus groom them- 

 selves. Under summer conditions fattening cattle may be protected during 

 the heat of the day by placing strips of burlap across the doorway or opening 

 of the shed. The darkened shed is undoubtedly the most practical method of 

 overcoming the difficulty with flies. 



Marketing Cattle. Selling cattle at home to local buyers or shipping 

 them to packing house centers are two ways of disposing of them. The 

 condition of the market, quality of the cattle, number of cattle one has and 

 one's familiarity with market conditions, should determine which plan will 

 be adopted. Selling to the local buyer is the only plan where one has only 

 a few cattle to sell. Cost of shipping and commission charges do not war- 

 rant shipping less than a carload lot. There is less risk in selling to local 

 buyers for the reason that the home market is always steadier than is the 

 larger market and the expenses are reduced to the minimum. On a declin- 

 ing market it is well to sell at home. To ship on a falling market is unsafe 

 unless there is necessity for doing so and the home market is very unsatis- 

 factory. There is opportunity to sell to advantage to the home buyer when 



