THE DEVELOPMENT OF ANIMALS 73 



the animal for a longer period on food' less rich in fat. 

 Furthermore, it will be apparent that proficiency in judging 

 of such indications can only be obtained through expe- 

 rience. 



The weigh scale properly used is a sure indication of 

 ripeness in animals that are being fattened on suitable foods. 

 If, when weighed occasionally, as for instance every two 

 weeks, at an advanced stage of the fattening process, they 

 show little or no gain, the feeding at the same time being 

 correct, it is so far an indication that they are ripe. Care 

 should be taken, however, to weigh from time to time, under 

 the same conditions, or the weights obtained may mislead. 



The loss resulting from continuing to feed animals that 

 are ripe is influenced by the age, and probably to a greater 

 extent by the price of foods. The more mature the animal, 

 the slower will be the gains subsequently to the ripening 

 of the animal. A yearling steer may be ripe enough to 

 meet the conditions of the market, and yet be capable of 

 making considerable increase subsequently, whereas a ma- 

 ture steer thus ripened would make but little increase and 

 under some conditions, none at all. The influence of food 

 prices is so apparent as to need no discussion. 



The importance of prompt marketing when the animals 

 are ripe is apparent from sundry tests made by certain of 

 the agricultural experiment stations. During 90 days in 

 feeding swine at the Ontario station in 1891, under the 

 direction of the author, pork was made at a cost of $4.65 per 

 100 pounds live weight. During the 47 days of subsequent 

 feeding on the same kinds of food, the cost was $14.93 P er 

 100 pounds. During five months' feeding of steers at the 

 Nebraska station in 1905, the average daily gain made was 

 2 pounds. The following month it fell to i 1 /^ pounds. It 

 may be prudent, nevertheless, to hold over finished ani- 

 mals for a period of relatively short duration when the con- 

 dition of the market has become unsettled, as from excess 

 in supplies or from some other cause. 



