1909J 



SHORT FED STEERS 



571 



Large consumption of feed in order to produce maximum gains is 

 generally associated with expensive gains. In this case, however, the 

 self-fed cattle (lot 2) produced an average daily gain per steer of .342 

 pounds more, and not figuring value of pork produced, the cost was 

 four hundredths of a cent per pound less than the hand fed lot, (lot 

 1). It should also be kept in mind that the cost of the chopped hay 

 was one dollar per ton more than the ordinary hay and this extra 

 charge was figured in the cost of gain. This indicates strongly then, 

 that for short feeding cattle, there is an advantage in chopping the hay, 

 mingling it with the grain and feeding thru a self-feeder. 



TABLE 6. WEIGHT OF STEERS AND EXTENT OF GAINS IN POUNDS 



Table 6 shows the total and average weights of the steers at the 

 beginning and close of the experiment and the total and average daily 

 gain per steer. As the increase in live weight of mature cattle is 

 largely fat, we might suppose that the steers in lot 2, which had gained 

 29.94 pounds per steer more, would be fatter and consequently worth 

 more on the market. This was corroborated by the values placed on 

 the steers in Chicago at the close of the experiment. 



MARKETING 



In preparing the cattle for shipment three feeds of timothy hay 

 were substituted at the last for the clover hay usually fed. Two of 

 these were included in the feed before the final weights were taken. 

 No special account is made, however, in the feed tables of this hay, as 

 it was thought to be of too little difference in value and importance to 

 be considered as affecting the gains or the cost to any noticeable ex- 

 tent. The last feed lot weight was taken on the morning of November 



22, before the cattle had been fed or watered. They were then fed 

 timothy hay and about half the usual grain feed. They also had ac- 

 cess to water for an hour, after which it was removed. 



In the afternoon, between three and four o'clock, the cattle were 

 quietly driven a distance of about a mile to the loading chutes, where 

 they were loaded at about five o'clock. They arrived and were un- 

 loaded in Chicago the following morning at 6 :30 Thursday, November 



23. After being allowed to fill, their value was estimated by expert 

 judges. Lot 1 was estimated at $5.45 and lot 2 at $5.60 per cwt. on 

 the then existing market. This makes a margin between buying and 

 selling price of $1.20 per cwt. in the case of lot 1, and $1.35 per cwt. 

 for lot 2. For commercial reasons the two loads were turned together 

 and sold as one bunch for $5.60 per cwt. The Chicago weight was 



