STOCK FEEDING 200 



finish of the cattle. It was shown that with cattle bringing 

 five cents a pound, corn when combined with clover or cowpea 

 hay was worth eight and one fourth cents more per bushel than 

 when combined with timothy. The same experiments showed 

 that a large consumption of roughage does not necessarily cause 

 a diminished grain consumption. 



Another factor which must not be overlooked in feeding is the 

 buying margin, because on this will depend the profit that may be 

 made in feeding. The gains put on cattle during the fattening 

 process will vary from six cents to ten cents per pound, while the 



On a cattle ranch. 



steer will bring on the market an average of four to seven cents 

 per pound. This situation is met by lowering the price at which 

 the steer in thin condition may be purchased, and places the 

 burden of the expense of the fattening process upon the cattle 

 raiser rather than on the feeder or the meat consumer. The 

 average margin for a six months' feed in summer is estimated 

 at $1.02 per hundred on two-year-old cattle, while for a similar 

 feed in winter an approximate margin of $1.50 would be required. 

 Stock fed under shelter and in well-ventilated barns do not 

 gain so rapidly nor so economically as those fed in an open shed 

 or those confined in an open lot, so that it seems the question 

 of providing stables is not so important as one might think. It 

 is always well, however, to provide shelter from storms and damp- 

 ness, as most breeds of cattle are not prepared to weather snow and 

 cold rains without discomfort and harm. 



