FEEDS AND FEEDING 389 



be increased. It requires heat that comes from the con- 

 sumption of food to make up the loss of heat sustained 

 by poor housing, or through drinking ice-cold water. 



Feeding Beef Cattle. Feeding beef cattle for the 

 market is more economically done when the animals 

 are young and growing. Some protein should be given 

 to furnish the growing tissues, but after full growth is 

 obtained a fat-forming ration should be supplied. 

 The principal food in the ration for fattening cattle is 

 corn. Feeders of experience have found that steers 

 gain more rapidly in weight and form fat more eco- 

 nomically if given foods that are palatable even though 

 they may be rich in protein. Some protein is neces- 

 sary to supply needed nitrogen, and it may serve to 

 produce better assimilation of other foods eaten. On 

 this account oil meal is often given as a part of the 

 ration for fattening steers. 



Note. The following rations have been fed successfully in fatten- 

 ing steers in different parts of the country : 



FOR STEERS WEIGHING 1000 LB. 



I c Ib. clover hay 



1 61b.com silage 8 lb ' mixed ha 7 

 1 3 Ib. corn meal 12.5 lb. corn meal 

 3 lb. wheat bran 3 ^ "'heat bran 

 . 2 lb. oil meal 



8 lb. alfalfa hay 

 I 2 lb. corn meal 5 lb. clover hay 



5 lb. ground oats 5 ^. beet pulp 



1 1 lb. corn meal 



5 lb. mixed timothy and clover 2 lb. cottonseed meal 



30 lb. silage 

 1 3 lb. oats and peas 



Purchase of Feeds. -The price of beef in this country 

 does not warrant the purchase of feeds altogether for 



