30 Growmg Feeder Steers in Western Nebraska 



Table 18 shows the cost of feed for wintering steers at the 

 prices charged for forage and grain in this bulletin. The farmer 

 or stockman often has the forage and the grain so far from 

 market that the market value has little or nothing to do with 

 his operations. Under such conditions he should consider the 

 value of the feed at the price it costs him to produce it. He 

 will not be counting any profit on the selling price of the forage 

 but all his profit will come from the steers. But the man who 

 is within reach of market points should count his feed at the 

 price it will net him on the market. He may then find that the 

 steer does not give a return above the market value of the feed, 

 but if the steer pays the market value for the feed he is not 

 causing the owner any loss. The farmer may think he can 

 winter his cattle at much less expense than the figures in Table 

 17 indicate, but after he has used the products that he could not 

 otherwise convert into money he will find that the cost will be 

 approximately as indicated if he charges the values used in 

 making up these figures. The above table gives the cost of feed 

 eaten by the steers each winter. The total cost of wintering 

 the steers should also include interest on the investment. 



