SUMMARY 



The feeding of beef cattle should occupy an important place in our system 

 of agriculture because of the additional value thus obtained from cottonseed 

 meal, the chief concentrated feed used in this State. 



The soils of the State are generally in need of large quantities of humus, which 

 can be supplied to a large extent from manure. The cheap roughages and concen- 

 trated feeds used for fattening beef cattle will when turned into manure supply 

 the soil with this material. 



More attention should be paid to the selection of feeding cattle. There is a 

 tendency at present to buy a cheap grade of mixed cattle, which will use approxi- 

 mately the same amount of feed as good cattle, but which will neither gain as 

 rapidly, nor increase the value of the finished carcass to the same extent. 



After shipping cattle from the mountains, it is a good plan to feed them on 

 roughages largely for two or three days. A small amount of corn silage will 

 be beneficial in overcoming any trouble incident to the direct change from pasture 

 to dry feeds. A small amount of cottonseed meal may be used with the silage 

 and dry roughage during this period. Not more than one pound of the meal 

 should be fed daily, however, during the first few days of the feeding period. 



Beef cattle should not be cramped in muddy, filthy, unventilated quarters. 

 They can withstand considerable cold without harmful effects, although they 

 should not be subjected to undue exposure. An open shed protected on the 

 north, east and west is sufficient for feeding beef cattle. In saving the manure, 

 however, it is best to confine them in roomy sheds or barns partially open to 

 the south. 



If the sheds are large, roomy and well ventilated and water is supplied inside 

 of the building it is not necessary to allow cattle the run of an open lot. In 

 fact, such a practice is not advisable under Southern conditions. 



Water and salt should be kept continually before the steers. By so doing they 

 will never take more than is necessary, while if they are supplied at irregular 

 intervals considerable trouble may arise. The idea that water and salt should 

 be given in limited quantities is a mistake, as this practice will be detrimental to 

 the best interests of the cattle feeder. 



For a short feeding period ranging from one hundred to one hundred and, 

 twenty days not more than four to five weeks should be required to get steers on 

 full feed. The amount of roughage fed should be determined by the appetite of 

 the animals. No more should be given than will be cleaned up readily at each 

 feed. 



The cottonseed meal part of the ration should not be increased on the average 

 more than two pounds per animal per week. By feeding one pound of meal per 

 steer for the first few days and then increasing it at the above rate, the steers 

 will be on a full ration of seven to eight pounds about the end of the fifth week. 



In many cases cattle are fed too much cottonseed meal, especially during the 

 preliminary period. The writer knows of certain instances in this State where 

 cattle were started on a ration containing four pounds of cottonseed meal per 

 head dai'y. This practice can not bring other than unsatisfactory results. 



