Types and Market Classes of Live Stock 113 



vantage of the younger animal, making the two-year-olds more profit- 

 able than the yearlings or calves. Furthermore, a table of costs and 

 prices does not fully emphasize the marked ability of the older animal 

 to consume roughage during the fattening period. Where considerable 

 quantities of silage, hay, or other roughage must be utilized, and this 

 is very frequently the case, older steers are desirable. Nevertheless, 

 in some instances and in certain years, the younger animals may be 

 preferable. For example, with higher cost of older steers, and lower 

 price of feeds, calves may be purchased and fed at a greater profit. 

 Another point which is frequently of practical importance is the fact 

 that the initial cost of calves per head is much less than that of older 

 cattle. Three or four calves may be bought for the price of one two- 

 year-old steer, and the feed-lot may be filled at a much smaller outlay 



Fig. 28. — An average load of steers on feed. 



of capital. For this reason, some farmers must feed calves if they are 

 to feed at all. 



2. The form should be as nearly identical as possible with the 

 description given for the fat steer. Allowances must, of course, be 

 made for the absence of fat in the thin animal, for we cannot expect 

 a thin steer to appear extremely blocky and low set. Yet even in thin 

 condition the steer should be low set, deep, broad, compact, and 

 balanced ; such conformation insures feeding capacity and early matur- 

 ity. Broad, level tops make possible a maximum development of high 

 priced cuts, and are indicative of superior form in the feeder. High- 

 grade feeders have a straight top line and straight underline, the two 

 being nearly parallel. For best results, a large feeding capacity is 

 of very great importance. The muzzle should be broad, the barrel 

 wide and deep, and the flanks well let down. An excessive paunch is 



