Counsel in the Feed Lot. 371 



periments show that the summer gains of fattening cattle cost only 

 about four- fifths as much as winter gains; hence a smaller margin 

 is necessary with summer-fed cattle. The higher the price of the 

 feeds employed in fattening the greater is the spread required. Thin 

 fleshed animals require less margin than those partially fat when 

 feeding begins. 



From statistics gathered from feeders in Missouri, Iowa, and Illi- 

 nois, Waters^ found that an average spread of $1.02 is required to 

 cover the entire cost of fattening cattle in summer — that is, they 

 must sell for $1.02 per cwt. above the purchase price to break even 

 on cost of production. For the 6 months of ^vinter feeding with 

 2-yr.-olds, Waters holds that a spread of $1.50 per cwt. is necessary. 

 Skinner and Cochel of the Indiana Station- found that witli Indiana 

 cattlemen it cost $4.80 per cwt. for summer gains and $7.20 per cwt. 

 for winter gains, and that an average spread of $1.07 per cwt., or 20 

 cents per cwt. per month, was required. (50?) 



580. Order and quiet. — On these important points Mumford^ 

 writes : "As soon as the fattening process begins, the cattle should 

 be fed at certain hours and in the same way. This cannot ])e varied 

 15 minutes without some detriment to the cattle. The extent of in- 

 jury will depend upon the frequency and extent of irregularity. 

 . . . The even-tempered attendant who is quiet in manner and move- 

 ment invariably proves more satisfactory than the erratic, bustling, 

 noisy one. The cattle soon learn to have confidence in the former 

 and welcome his coming among them, while they are always suspi- 

 cious of the latter, never feeling quite at ease when he is in sight. 

 Under the management of the former, the cattle become tame and 

 quiet, even tho more or less wild at the outset; while under the lat- 

 ter, wild cattle become wilder and tame cattle become timid. The 

 writer has observed a wide difference in practice among feeders as 

 to their manner of approaching fattening steers. Some are brusque 

 in manner, rushing up to the steers and scaring them up quickly, 

 while other (and I am bound to say more successful) feeders ap- 

 proach the cattle with the greatest care and consideration, getting 

 the cattle up, if at all, as quietly as possible. Pastures for cattle in 

 quiet, secluded places are more valuable for fattening cattle than are 

 those adjacent to the public roads or adjoining pastures where horses 

 or breeding cattle run." (93) 



581. The eye of the master. — The ability to fatten cattle rapidly 

 and profitably is a gift, to be increased and strengthened by expe- 



^ Loc. cit. = Cir. No. 12. ^ Beef Production, pp. 92-3. 



