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other reason for a greater price being paid for fleshy cattle. This 

 may be illustrated by the following exhibit : 



1,000 Ib. steer @ $4.00 $40. oo 



100 Ibs. increase in feed lot 



$7.50 $7.50 



Total cost of 1,100 Ib. steer $47.50 



Total cost per hundred $ 4.32 



It can be readily seen that the same steer when weighing 1,100 

 pounds would have cost the feeder $4.32 per hundred as compared 

 with $4.00 per hundred when weighing 1,000 pounds. The pro- 

 ducer is generally so situated that he is able to secure this higher 

 condition at much less expense than is possible in the feed lot, and 

 frequently at less than its selling value per hundred. Under such 

 conditions he should endeavor to hold his cattle until they may be 

 marketed as "fleshy feeders" in order to obtain the additional prem- 

 ium paid for this grade of cattle. 



The heavier the feeder, the greater will be the profit from 

 Weight, the margin between the cost of feeders and the selling 

 price of fat cattle. The poorer the quality the more import- 

 ant it is to have weight at the beginning of the period. Assuming 

 that two lots of cattle of the same age, type, breeding, condition and 

 previous treatment, are offered at $4.00 per hundred, one lot weigh- 

 ing 1,000 pounds, the other 1,200 pounds, a rise in value of $1.50 

 per hundred while being finished would amount to $15.00 on the 

 1,000 pound cattle and $18.00 on the 1,200 pound cattle, a differ- 

 ence of $3.00 per head in favor of the heavier cattle, due to addi- 

 tional weight alone. If this additional weight were due to condition 

 rather than size, there would be a further profit due to either a 

 shorter feeding period or a higher price when sold. 



The question of age is one that has attracted much attention. 

 Age. T he younger the steer, provided weight, condition and quality 



are the same, the more valuable to the feeder, as the cost of 

 gain increases with the age of the cattle. In selecting calves which are 

 to be finished as yearlings, the greatest attention must be paid to se- 

 cure quality, type and breeding as it is impossible to finish inferior 

 cattle at an early age. Calves taken directly from their dams and 

 weighing from 350 to 500 pounds will bring more per pound than 

 they will any time later until they are fat enough to be attractive to 

 the killer. A greater price may also be paid per pound for well bred 

 calves which are to be carried as stockers than for lower grades. A 

 difference of 50 cents per hundred on the price of a 400 pound calf 

 will amount to $2.00. When weighing 1,000 pounds this would be 

 overcome by an increase of 20 cents per hundred, which is easily 

 secured with a very little better breeding and more quality. In other 

 words, the calf buyer is justified in paying for quality and indica- 



