372 



FARMER'S' CYCLOPEDIA OF LIVE STOCK 



800 to 1,000 pounds. The term Dis- 

 tillers arose from the fact that formerly 

 the feeders who used distillers' residues 

 in cattle rations purchased only poor 

 grades of bulls and steers, for the con- 

 sumption of such feed. At present 

 however, distillery residues are fed to a 

 better grade of steers. The Texas or 

 western range cattle were formerly 

 distinguished by their long horns and 

 brands. At present a long horn steer 

 is seldom seen, and the pure breeds of 

 cattle have been so widely distributed 

 over the range that the western range 

 steer may not be distinguished by any 

 characteristic feature except for the 

 fact that he bears a brand. A slight 

 discrimination is made by buyers 

 against Texas cattle on account of their 

 long horns, and against southern cattle 

 on account of the fact that they come 



but are animals which have never been 

 sufficiently well fed to be in a good mar- 

 ket condition. As a rule, only a small 

 percentage of steers of good quality are 

 classed as butcher stock, for if they are 

 fat they go in the class of beef cattle, 

 and if they have not been fattened and 

 are promising animals, they are more 

 properly classified with the stockers and 

 feeders. 



Cutters and canners_Mumford calls 

 attention to the fact that the impression 

 commonly prevails that this class in- 

 cludes only old, thin cows. As a mat- 

 ter of fact, however, it includes poor 

 bulls, steers and heifers, as well as cows. 

 Great difficulties are experienced in fix- 

 ing the value of animals which belong to 

 this class. Cows are apt to show an 

 excessively large paunch and in general 

 they dress a relatively low per cent. 



Fig. 255 — WESTERN STEERS USED IN LARGE FEEDING OPERATIONS 



from below the quarantine line. Dis- 

 tinction is often made to indicate lo- 

 calities where range steers have been 

 bred and fed. Thus we have such terms 

 as Montana Texans, Dakota Texans, 

 etc. Since all western range cattle bear 

 brands, they are sometimes referred to 

 as branded cattle. 



Butcher stock — This class includes 

 what is sometimes referred to as the by- 

 products of the industry of cattle feed- 

 ing. This means that the feeder has 

 failed to produce a prime animal, 

 either for the reason that he made a poor 

 selection of feeders, or from not hav- 

 ing used proper rations. It is not al- 

 ways possible, however, to make for- 

 tunate selections of stock, and even the 

 most expert cattle feeders sometimes se- 

 lect in their herds animals which can- 

 not be satisfactorily fattened. These 

 animals find their way to the local 

 or Chicago market. Many of them are 

 not culls from the classes of beef cattle, 



Buyers, therefore, ordinarily discrimi- 

 nate against them. Neither cutters nor 

 canners include any prime grades, since 

 from the very nature of the class, it is 

 evident that no animals of prime quality 

 should be included in it. The quality 

 which is visually apparent in inferior 

 canners may be readily understood from 

 such names as Dairymaids, Nellies, 

 Hat Racks and Skins, which are com- 

 monly applied to them. Low-grade bulls, 

 which show a poor conformation and 

 lack of condition are commonly referred 

 to as Bologna Bulls. The best part of 

 the loins and ribs of bologna bulls, how- 

 ever, may be used for block purposes. 



Stockers and feeders — This is a very 

 important market class of beef stock, 

 since from this class the majority of 

 cattle feeders select their stock for the 

 production of fine beef animals. As 

 indicated by Mumford, these two classes 

 represent the beginning and the end of 



