FEEDING BEEF CATTLE 



267 



are, in general, similar to those fed dairy cows, but the feeding 

 of Indian corn predominates, being of far greater importance for 

 this purpose than all other grain feeds combined. It is the great 

 fattening feed of America, and, on account of its high starch and 

 oil contents and high digestibility, may be considered the most 

 important factor in both beef and pork production in this country. 

 Corn is fed to fattening steers in the majority of cases as snapped 





FIG. 62. Steer feeding barns and feeding troughs on a California cattle ranch. (See also 

 Fig. 31.) (Pacific Rural Press.) 



(unhusked) or husked ear corn or whole shelled corn. It is crushed, 

 ground, or soaked only in exceptional cases, viz., when very dry 

 and hard on account of having been stored long in the crib. Being 

 only medium or low in protein, it is supplemented to advantage in 

 feeding steers with legume hay, or some high-protein feed, like 

 linseed meal or cotton-seed meal, which is fed two to three pounds 

 a day during the last sixty days of the fattening period (Figs. 

 62 and 63). 



