SELECTING STEERS FOR FEEDING 25 



operator should work for profits more than to satisfy his love 

 for the beauty of a prime bullock. It often happens that the 

 margin between fancy selected feeders and prime beef is too 

 narrow to warrant feeding operations, and the choice of fancy 

 feeders would be unwise, because their gaining possibilities are 

 closely limited. On the other hand thin, common feeders with 

 greater gaining possibilities may be obtained cheaply, and by 

 feeding them a greater profit can be made because the cost of 

 gain is less and the margin necessary varies directly as the cost 

 of gains. In other words, it is sometimes better to fatten thin 

 stockers up to the butcher class than it is to attempt to run se- 

 lected feeders up to prime beef. 



Bulls, stags, and heifers are also sometimes more profitable 

 to feed than good steers ; not because of any great difference in 

 margin, but because cheaper and more rapid gains can be made. 



ACTIVE HOGS SHOULD FOLLOW STEERS 



Few feeders of cattle attempt to operate without having hogs 

 following the cattle. The most economical way of feeding any 

 feed is to have it as free from extra preparation as possible. 

 For example, the most economical way to feed fodder corn is 

 with the ears attached. The most economical way to feed corn 

 is on the cob, breaking the ear once. 



The profit of the feeding transaction is increased by decreas- 

 ing the cost of preparing the feed. Steers may be made to gain 

 somewhat more rapidly when the corn is shelled or ground ; but 

 the farmer is interested in total gains of steers and hogs. Hogs 

 following steers should be vigorous and active, weighing 100 to 

 150 pounds. Hogs that are too fat are not profitable because 

 they are not active enough. When they become too fat to follow 

 the steers, they should be taken away from the feed lot and 

 thinner hogs put in. Brood sows in pig, and small pigs weigh- 

 ing fifty to sixty pounds are too likely to be injured to be kept 

 in the feed lot. Fat steers return somewhat more feed to the 

 hog than do thinner ones. The age of the cattle also has an 

 effect upon the amount of feed that can be obtained by the hogs ; 

 older cattle return somewhat more than younger cattle. 



The character of the feed also has some effect upon the gains 

 made by the hogs. For example, hogs following steers fed on 

 clover or alfalfa hay make better gains than those following 

 steers fed on timothy hay. Some men fear danger to hogs fol- 



