FINISHING STOCK FOR MARKET 249 



favorable to the economical use of fat-forming feeds 

 later on. This does not mean that an exclusively 

 protein ration should be given, but simply that the 

 ration used at this time may be narrower than that 

 given later. The second period will demand feeds 

 of a more carbonaceous nature. A liberal propor- 

 tion of corn may be given, and molasses or other 

 sugar-bearing food may be added if such rations as 

 this are available. This is the period of gross fat 

 production. Not only should fat be deposited in 

 the regular fat cells of the animal's system, but also 

 between the muscular fibers and upon the surface 

 of the muscular frame. The ration at this time will 

 be quite wide, although it must still contain a 

 liberal amount of protein. 



The market requirements for meat of the best 

 quality demand that the muscular tissue shall be 

 well marbled; that is, a layer of fat will alternate 

 with a layer of lean meat. Feeding animals to 

 produce meat of this character requires scien- 

 tific feeding, and is an art in itself, which is 

 done at its best by only a few feeders. An animal 

 which may appear fat and smooth to the eye will 

 not necessarily be fattened in this manner. Nearly 

 every cattle man has seen steers which have pre- 

 sented an excellent general appearance, yet the 

 slaughter tests showed fat to be deposited in thick 

 layers as a covering to the muscular tissue, with 

 the result that the meat was of a very inferior 

 quality and disappointing to the purchaser. Animals 

 of this character can be distinguished only by ex- 

 perienced buyers of the stockyards. A carload of 

 steers, showing external fat of this kind, or which 

 have been fed until the fat is deposited in such a 

 way as to become " patchy," will always be dis- 

 criminated against in price. 



