Growing Feeder Steers in Western Nebraska 



27 



in the spring, and may indicate the condition and vigor of the 

 animal due to the forage upon which it has been wintered. The 

 forage required for 100 Ibs. of increase in weight varies greatly 

 when only roughage is fed, as much the larger part of the feed 

 is used in maintaining the body of the animal. One noticeable 

 feature with the lots of steers was that the increased weight of 

 the heavier lots over the lighter in the spring was largely flesh 

 rather than frame. While the lighter lots often lost weight 

 during the winter, the loss was in flesh and they continued to 

 develop frame tho losing in total weight. The loss of flesh and 

 of weight during the winter is, on the whole, not economical, 

 and methods of wintering should be worked out which not only 

 will be cheap but will permit the animal to gain in weight. 



TABLE 15. Feed required for 100 Ibs. increase in weight with 

 steers during the winter. 



Table 16 gives the cost of feed for 100 Ibs. of gain on each 

 lot during each winter. Where there was a loss in weight, no 

 attempt has been made to estimate the cost of the loss. The 

 figures indicate that gains made during the winter on stock 

 cattle are very expensive. This is due to the increase in weight 

 being made slowly on expensive feed. This table indicates 

 clearly that the selling price in the spring must be much above 

 that in the fall if the steers pay for the feed eaten during the 

 winter with the rations used. 



