MEAT PRODUCTION 381 



Of course the relative amounts of grain consumed by 

 animals, both when growing and during the finishing 

 period, will be influenced by the amount of coarse fodder 

 fed, whether fed in the green or dry form. The assumption 

 is safe, nevertheless, that to finish animals properly on 

 grain, the amount of the same required increases, first, with 

 increase in the age of the animals, and second, with the 

 continuance and prolongation of the fattening period. This, 

 however, does not make it certain that long periods of feed- 

 ing will be attended with less profit. That will only follow 

 in instances where the degree of the finish is not superior 

 in character. 



Cost of increase. It has been shown that animals as 

 a rule make gains more slowly as the birth period is re- 

 ceded from (see p. 371). It has also been shown, that 

 notwithstanding the slower gains, more food relatively and 

 absolutely is consumed in making them, and that this al.^o 

 applied to the fattening period (see p. 379). It naturally 

 follows, therefore, that the cost of increase is greater as the 

 birth period is receded from, and as the fattening period 

 advances. But to this there are some exceptions, especially 

 during the growing period, as is shown below. 



Many instances, all based on experiment, may be cited 

 to show increasing cost in the gains made with increasing 

 age. The following only can be given here: At the Wis- 

 consin experiment station, it was found that with animals 

 up to the age of 12 months, 100 pounds of beef, live weight, 

 cost $4.20, while with the same animals during the next 

 12 months, it cost $6.13. At the Massachusetts station, 

 With animals in the two-year form, 100 pounds of beef, live 

 Weight, cost $7.49, and with the same animals in the three- 

 year form, it cost $12.38. At the Iowa experiment station 

 lambs that were fattened cost $3.61 for every TOO pounds of 

 live increase made, and wethers on the same feed cost $5.33 

 for each 100 pounds of the same. At the Wisconsin experi- 

 ment station, swine which averaged 222 pounds when put 

 on feed consumed 418 pounds of meal to make 100 pounds 



