II 



will require a relatively higher finish because, as a rule, their 

 cost price as feeders is so high that there will be too small 

 a margain between it and the selling price to pay a profit if 

 they are not made prime. 



QUESTIONS SUBMITTED TO PRACTICAL FEEDERS. 



Some five years ago, the Experiment Station asked nearly 

 three thousand of the most experienced and successful cattle 

 feeders in Missouri and a limited number of such men in Illinois 

 and Iowa for a summary of their experience, observations and 

 conclusions concerning some of the most vital points in beef 

 production. The questions propounded were as follows : 



1. How many years have you fed steers? 



2. State approximately the total number of cattle you 

 have fattened and marketed. 



3. What is the usual length of your feeding period; i. e., 

 the number of days the steers are on full feed? 



4. What season of the year have you found to be the most 

 profitable for feeding, and why? 



5. Have you found winter feeding satisfactory, and do 

 you continue to practice it ? 



6. In winter feeding do you shelter in a warm barn, an 

 open shed, or feed in the open lot? 



7. In winter feeding do you aim to give the steers 

 access to good bluegrass pasture during open weather ? 



8. About what weight at selling time has in your exper- 

 ience returned the most clear profit, and why? 



9. Have you found it profitable under ordinary circum- 

 stances to produce 1500 to 1600 pound steers? 



10. What average daily gain do you expect : 

 (a). In winter on full feed? 



(b). In summer on full feed and grass? 



11. In buying feeders, what margin over cost price per 

 100 pounds do you consider necessary in order to make money? 



12. At what age do you usually put your steers on full 

 grain feed? 



13. Describe briefly your method of feeding steers during 

 the fattening period, including the feeds you use. 



