CATTLE GENERAL MANAGEMENT. 803 



also takes much less grass for the corn-fed cattle, and I find 

 that a pasture that will furnish grass for one car load of cattle 

 only when they are fed no grain, will be sufficient for two car 

 loads when fed grain. 



" Second. The gain of cattle is uniform in summer feeding, 

 as you do not have the storms to contend with which winter 

 brings. I have often in winter fed with the greatest care for 

 one or two weeks in bad weather, and felt well satisfied if my 

 stock had not actually lost flesh, and it is not uncommon for 

 three weeks to pass without gain, when the cattle were eating 

 over half a bushel of corn each per day. It is considered good 

 feeding to make an average gain of two pounds per head each 

 day in winter feeding, and to do this requires good stock and 

 the best of care and heavy feeding. The statement of weights 

 below will show the gains I have been able to make by com- 

 bining grass and grain feeding. 



" Third. In winter feeding there is danger of over-feeding 

 producing indigestion and consequent loss of appetite and flesh, 

 and with the utmost care there will be loss from this cause. In 

 summer feeding we do not have this trouble, for the cattle when 

 full of grass will not eat corn enough to hurt them. In summer 

 feeding I find the cattle will eat an average of a peck of corn a 

 day. We feed at night in boxes in a feed-lot, as we find the 

 cattle will come to the lot with more regularity and certainty 

 then than at any other time of the day. 



" The profit on the hogs that follow the cattle pays, on an av- 

 erage, for the pasture and half the corn, and in exceptional years 

 of high prices of pork I have had it pay for pasture, corn, and 

 interest on the money invested. Below I give a statement of 

 the time of feeding, weights, amount of corn fed, etc. : 



" 1877. Fed 55 steers. Put in feed-lots February 17th and 

 fed lightly for five weeks, but got them on full feed by the first 

 of April. Fed one peck of corn per day to each on grass, and 

 sold the latter part of June, after 129 days feeding. Cattle 

 weighed 1,010 pounds each when put up, and 1,429 when sold, 

 making an average gain of 419 pounds, or about 3i each per day. 



" 1878. Fed 64 head. These cattle were quite thin, and 



