Here again there is a fairly definite relation between 

 the gains made in winter and those made the following 

 summer at grass or, as has already been pointed out in a 

 previous trial, the gains in summer are in- inverse ratio to the 

 gains made the previous winter. Or, perhaps more accu- 

 rately stated, the summer gain is inversely proportionate to 

 the amount of fat the animal carries to grass. 



CATTLE TO GRAZE WELL MUST BE THIN 



It is evident therefore that if cattle are to be grazed the 

 following summer, advantage cannot be profitably taken of 

 the cheapest way of making gains, in winter namely, by 

 full feeding, inasmuch as the animal would in a short time 

 under this treatment be carrying so much fat that it x would 

 not make good gains at grass, and the only profitable dis- 

 position to make of it would be to continue the fattening 

 process until it was ready for market. This makes the cost 

 per pound of gain in merely wintering cattle excessively 

 high. This, however, is not a fair measure of the cost of 

 wintering as a rule, inasmuch as the number of pounds of 

 gain is very small. For example, a steer gaining 50 pounds 

 during the winter and costing 10 cents a pound for this gain, 

 or a total of $5.00 for the entire wintering period, would be a 

 comparatively inexpensive animal to take through a six 



49 



