298 STOCK FEEDING 



feeders also reported that cattle gained materially faster in sum- 

 mer and at something like four fifths the cost of similar cattle 

 fed in winter. Gains on grass alone were made very cheaply, 

 but the cattle were low-priced because they were not in market- 



crass -fed cattle. 



able condition and had to be sold to feeders with sufficient margin 

 to enable the buyer t<3 fit them for market. 



The average length of the full feeding period as given in 

 this bulletin was one hundred and seventy-seven days, or practi- 

 cally six months. The opinions as to the kind of steer giving 

 the greatest profit were as follows: 



Missouri .... 1345 Ib. 



Iowa 1358 Ib. 



Illinois .... 1390 Ib. 



Nebraska . . . . 1400 Ib. 



From these reports it would appear that the best average weight 

 for feeding cattle is thirteen hundred and sixty-seven pounds. 

 Feeding cattle weighing from fifteen hundred to sixteen hundred 

 pounds was generally found not very profitable. The average 

 age for feeding cattle full feed was given at two years of age, but 

 a large number of feeders reported in favor of beginning full 

 feed at three years of age. 



All the feeders used roughage, but they seemed to think it 

 made no material difference as to the kind or the amount used. 

 The experiments made at the Missouri Station showed that the 

 roughage affected strongly the rate and cost of gain and the 



