FEEDING AND CARE OF BEEF CATTLE 299 



before cattle at all times, they readily adapt themselves to taking a 

 fill once daily and thrive. The water provision should not be less 

 than 10 gallons per day per head for mature cattle. 



Animals consuming large quantities of rich, nutritious food, as are 

 fattening steers, show a strong desire for salt, and this craving should 

 be reasonably satisfied. 



Hints on fattening cattle. — In fattening cattle it is important that 

 they be accustomed to corn or other concentrates gradually or di- 

 gestive trouble will result. At first give all the roughage they will 

 clean up, with but 2 lbs. of concentrates per head daily, increasing 

 1 lb. or less each day until 10 lbs. is fed. Any further increase should 

 be still more gradual. The majority of cattlemen feed concentrates 

 and roughage twice a day in winter and once a day on pasture in 

 summer. 



The best results are secured only when the cattle are fed at regular 

 hours and when the attendant is quiet and kind at all times, so that 

 the animals trust rather than fear him. In parts of the corn belt 

 the feed lot in winter is often a sea of mud. Under such conditions 

 the steers cannot be expected to make the best gains. Cattle of the 

 same age, or at least those of equal size and strength, should be fed 

 in the same enclosure. Weak animals, and those unable for any 

 reason to crowd to the feed trough and get their share, should be 

 placed where they can eat in quiet. The expert stockman quickly 

 notes any tendency to scour, and checks it by reducing the allowance 

 of concentrates. He has a quick eye which takes in every animal 

 in the feed lot at a glance, and a sound judgment which guides in 

 dealing out feed ample for all, but not a pound in excess. 



Pigs following- steers/ — Pigs are usually kept with fattening cat- 

 tle to utilize the undigested corn or other grain in the droppings. 

 The number of pigs per steer varies with the kind of feed and the age 

 of the cattle being fed. The range is 2 to 3 pigs per steer on snapped 

 corn, about 1.5 per steer on husked ear corn, 1 per steer on shelled 

 corn, and 1 pig to 2 or 3 steers on crushed or ground com. The 

 younger the steers, the better they masticate and utilize their feed 

 and the smaller are the gains made by the pigs following. The best 

 pigs for following cattle weigh from 50 to 150 lbs. and when they 

 become fat they should be replaced. Any extra grain given the pigs 

 should be fed in nearby separate pens before the cattle are fed, so 

 that they will not crowcl around the feed troughs or under the wagon 

 and team when the cattle are being fed. The margin in cattle feed- 

 ing is frequently so narrow that the gains made by the pigs return 

 the only profit. Therefore, except in the case of young cattle being 



7 Largely adapted from Waters, Mo. Bui. 76. 



