FEEDING AND MANAGEMENT OF BEEF CATTLE. 53 



original animals. Such results can be overcome by using a specific plan 

 in administering the rations. Unless some definite method of feeding 

 is followed in all important details, unsatisfactory results are sure to 

 follow. The writer will attempt to outline some of the most important 

 factors to be taken into consideration in order to secure good average re- 

 sults.. If the large feeders of the corn belt used such a system of man- 

 agement as prevails in general throughout this State they would not be 

 able to follow the cattle feeding business many years. In a number of 

 instances the writer has seen cattle in this State with a constant supply 

 of cottonseed meal and cottonseed hulls before them, the feed troughs 

 never being entirely cleaned of their contents. 



This accumulation of feed in the trough is sure to bring on troubles 

 incident to the use of large quantities of cottonseed meal. This system 

 of feeding even with the ordinary feeds would soon bring about disas- 

 trous results. By using care and judgment in* feeding, this State can 

 be made second to none in the production of beef cattle. 



Season for Feeding. 



For several reasons the winter season is naturally the best time to 

 feed beef cattle in this section of the country. 



First, it is difficult to buy feeding cattle in the spring. In the 

 mountain country, where practically all the feeding cattle are produced, 

 the grazers will not sell in the spring of the year except for exorbitant 

 prices, because of their desire to take advantage of the cheap gains 

 which can be made during the spring, summer and early fall. The 

 feeder can not pay the necessary price to secure feeders in the spring 

 and come out even on the transaction. After these cattle have made 

 their maximum gains on pasture, which will be from the first to the 

 fifteenth of October, the grazers are ready to sell. Naturally these cattle 

 can be bought at this season at a lower price than at any other time of 

 the year. 



Second, cottonseed meal can be purchased cheaper during the fall 

 months, when the season's crop is first placed on the market. 



Third, the farmer has more time during the winter season to super- 

 vise the feeding of cattle and distribute the manure over the farm. 



Fourth, a higher price can be obtained for finished cattle during the 

 winter and early spring months because the competition of grain fed 

 cattle during the spring and summer with grass fattened cattle would 

 force the price of the grain fed cattle to an unprofitable figure. Further- 

 more, the climatic conditions in this State makes the winter season very 

 desirable for feeding beef cattle. The cold is not severe enough to in- 

 fluence the gains, in fact, considering all the factors involved, the winter 

 season is more favorable for cattle feeding than the summer season. 



Method of Feeding. 



The usual method followed in feeding beef cattle is to divide the daily 

 ration into two equal feeds which are given in the morning about seven 

 and in the evening about four. This is a matter which should receive 



