FEEDING AND MANAGEMENT OF BEEF CATTLE. 57 



should first be decided upon and then the price adjusted according to 

 market conditions. In this State the major portion of the feeders 

 shipped to the Eastern and Piedmont sections are common cattle. They 

 may be divided into two general classes, namely, plain rough steers and 

 mixed feeders consisting of cows, heifers, stags and oxen. While there 

 may be a market for a limited number of these, they are unsatisfactory 

 in the feed lot as they make small gains, and do not sell satisfactorily 

 because of their lack of breeding, condition and uniformity. 



Good feeders consist of steers, low-set, broad and deep, with good 

 length of body smoothly and heavily covered with natural flesh or 

 muscle. An animal of this type will gain well in the feed lot under 

 normal conditions. It is possible to make gains on such steers ranging 

 from two to three pounds per day. The ordinary class of feeders used 

 throughout the State, under average conditions, will gain from one to 

 one and one-half pounds daily. If sufficient care and time is taken in 

 purchasing feeding cattle, much improvement can be effected in this re- 

 spect. At present a good average grade of feeders can be purchased 

 for four cents per pound or thereabouts, mountain weights, and the in- 

 creased gains which can be made on this class of cattle with the better 

 selling price will more than overbalance the difference in cost of these 

 cattle and plain rough feeders. 



Feeding cattle should be neither too old nor too young. Very young 

 steers will not fatten readily, and especially is this true considering the 

 nitrogenous character of cottonseed meal. There is not so much danger, 

 however, in getting stock too young as there is in buying those which 

 are old, unthrifty and very late in maturing qualities. The best results 

 will be gotten from two and three year old steers under Southern con- 

 ditions. They will fatten readily, and will not be so likely to become 

 affected by heavy cottonseed meal rations as younger steers. 



Frequency and ^Regularity of Feeding. 



Steers intended for the open market are ordinarily fed twice daily. 

 During the winter season when most of the cattle are fed, the feeding 

 should be done at some regular time each day. Seven in the morning 

 is not too early, as the steers will generally be ready for their feed at 

 this time. In the afternoon, if they are fed about four-thirty, they will 

 have time to consume their feed before night. It is not so important 

 that they be fed exactly at these hours, however, it is important that 

 regularity in the hours of feeding be followed throughout the feeding 

 period. If the hours given above interfere with farm work, they may be 

 changed to fit in with this work, although it would not be best to depart 

 radically from the hours stated. The time between feeds should be 

 divided as equally as possible, and these hours followed with considerable 

 regularity. 



Water and Salt. 



"Water and salt should be supplied regularly. The best plan to fol- 

 low is to keep the water and salt where the steers can have free access 

 to them. In this way they will satisfy their appetite daily and not take 

 an undue quantity at any time. There is a mistaken idea prevalent in 



