8 



sent out primarily for the purpose of securing information which 

 would enable the Animal Husbandry Department to more intelli- 

 gently conduct experiments in cattle feeding, it is thought that the 

 data from so wide a range of practical experience are of sufficient 

 interest and importance to Indiana feeders to justify the Experi- 

 ment Station in publishing the report. 



THE EXTENT OF THE BUSINESS. 



The first five questions were relative to the extent of the busi- 

 ness of cattle feeding in Indiana. The first two questions indicate 

 that the reports are based upon the feeding of 806,862 steers. The 

 average experience of each man extended over 18.3 years involving 

 the use of 55.5 steers annually. On January 1st, 1906, there were 

 in Indiana 1,141,778 cattle other than milk cows. It would be fair 

 to assume that not more than one-fourth of these were in the feed 

 lots being finished for market. From these figures the conclusion 

 may be drawn that the replies to this list of questions are based 

 upon the feeding of three times as many cattle as were fed in the 

 whole state during the year 1906, hence the report should, in a 

 measure, be authoritative as it is not only given by men who have 

 had a long practical experience, but who have handled cattle in 

 sufficient numbers to justify them in reaching conclusions, based 

 upon their own experience. Such information should prove valu- 

 able to others engaged in the same line of work. 



For the year 1906, 31 per cent reported an increase in the 

 number of cattle being fed in their locality, 15 per cent reported 

 no change, while 54 per cent reported a decrease. The majority, 

 or 63 per cent of these same men reported that they, themselves 

 were feeding more cattle than was their usual custom, while 37 per 

 cent reported a decrease in the number they were feeding. This is 

 an interesting fact in that the men reporting were, as a rule, ex- 

 perienced feeders who had fed cattle for many years. This means 

 that the professional cattle feeder is more apt to increase his hold- 

 ings of cattle at a time when the average number of cattle going 

 on feed is smaller than usual, while the man who feeds only a car 

 load occasionally is apt to drop out of the market just at the time 

 it should prove a profitable proposition. 



BEEF PRODUCTION ADAPTED TO LARGE FARMS. 



The average size of the farm devoted to beef production in 

 Indiana as reported in answer to question 5, was found to be 398.3 

 acres, of which 98 acres is in corn, 135 in pasture and 60 in meadow. 

 This shows that 75 per cent of the total area of the farms reported 



