384 FEEDING FARM ANIMALS 



The value of the fertilizer made is a factor of much 

 importance in some localities, in other places it is not ati 

 important consideration. While of course it does not in- 

 fluence gains, it does influence profits, and just in proportion 

 to the grade of the fertilizer made and the relative value 

 of the same in the locality. 



Usually the increase during the fattening period 

 costs more than it will sell for in the market. This gener- 

 ally holds true in fattening cattle, sheep and swine, but to 

 a less degree probably in swine than in the other classes 

 named. Such increase in fattening mature cattle usually 

 costs not less than I to 3 cents per pound more than it will 

 sell for in the market. But to this there are some ex- 

 ceptions as when the price of foods is relatively low and 

 that of meat relatively high. The same is true also in many 

 instances of growing baby beef, under normal conditions 

 because of the quick gains made by the animals. The 

 testimony, however, of nearly all experiments in fattening 

 live stock in this country have shown that the cost of in- 

 crease during the fattening season has been greater than 

 the cost of the food. 



Wherein is the profit from fattening live stock under 

 such conditions? It arises from the increase in the value 

 of each pound of the live weight of the animal when the 

 fattening began. Suppose, for instance, that a steer is 

 purchased and put on feed. Suppose that he weighs 1,200 

 pounds live weight and costs 4 cents per pound ; suppose that 

 the increase in weight from six months feeding is 300 

 pounds, each pound of which costs 6 cents to make it. The 

 steer when finished is sold for 5 cents per pound live weight. 

 Allowing the manure made to offset the cost of feeding 

 and other incidental expenses, the transaction will stand as 

 follows: $75 the selling price when finished, less 

 $48 the purchase price, less $18 the cost of increase 

 during fattening, leaves $9 as the net profit 

 from the transaction. But what of the cost of grow- 

 ing the steer up to the time of fattening? It should 



