12 



growing cattle is that they are better. The man who produces a 

 high grade beef steer, does not do so by accident, but because he 

 has given time and attention to his business, studied market de- 

 mands and observed the type of cattle which make cheap, rapid 

 gains in the feed lot and finish into the most desirable market pro- 

 duct. When he has produced these cattle and compares them with 

 such as must be purchased as feeders, he finds them more satis- 

 factory as they have the capacity and the constitution to stand 

 heavy feeding without getting "off feed", are blocky, compact 

 animals which require a relatively short feed to finish and are of a 

 quality which secures top prices. 



Of those who are producing a part of their cattle, 82 per cent 

 allow the calves to suckle the cows, while 18 per cent milk the cows 

 and grow the calves on skim milk. Stating it in other words, the 

 general practice of the men who grow feeders, is to depend solely 

 upon the calf to pay for maintaining the cow a year. This necessi- 

 tates the use of improved blood which is also evident by the answers 

 to the preceding question where 83 per cent of those reporting, state 

 that the cattle are better. Seventy-five per cent of tfyose who are 

 raising their own feeders, feed the calf grain before weaning. 



CATTLE FEEDERS DO NOT RAISE THEIR OWN CATTLE. 



In regard to purchasing feeders, 94 per cent of the men pur- 

 chase at least a part of their feeders. This means either that the 

 cattle feeder has not the facilities for producing a sufficient number 

 of cattle, or that he f eete that they can be produced cheaper in other 

 localities not adapted to the growing of corn. Of those who buy 

 their feeders, 29 per cent go to Chicago for them; 27 per cent buy 

 in their immediate locality; 15 per cent in Indianapolis; 9 per cent 

 in Kansas City and the remainder are purchased in various places, 

 showing that the general practice of the feeder buyer is to go to 

 some central market when he is unable to obtain the cattle in his 

 immediate locality.* During the past three years the Station has 

 ' found that feeders can be purchased during the fall of the year in 

 the southern part of the state at a price which will justify feeding 

 them out. These cattle possess constitution and capacity, with a 

 fair degree of beef type and are capable of making rapid and 

 economical gains. They do not have the best quality and breeding, 

 but have a tendency to be plain and leggy. Otherwise they are all 

 that can be desired in feeding cattle. 

 _^___ 



*See Circular No. 8. " Purchasing Feeders ", Purdue Experiment Station. 



