BEEFCATTLE 587 



to increase the amount of corn as they become fatter. This makes the 

 period when they are really on full feed very short. 



Fitting Show Animals. — The production of show animals is in reality 

 a form of advertisement, and is restricted largely to the breeders of pure- 

 bred cattle. Eveiy art known to the feeder is utilized to develop such 

 animals. The ration is quite similar to that fed to fattening animals 

 during the last part of the feeding period, and is improved by grinding 

 the grain, cutting the hay and adding a greater variety of feeds. Some- 

 times barley is boiled and fed at the rate of one gallon per day and sugar 

 or molasses is mixed with the grain to increase the palatability. In fact, 

 everything possible is done to keep up the animal's appetite. 



THE SELECTION OF CATTLE FOR THE FEED LOT 



The selection of cattle for the feed lot is probably the most vital 

 question before the cattle feeders today. Upon this one problem depends 

 the ultimate financial success of those who make a business of converting 

 grain and roughage into beef. There are three factors which should always 

 be given consideration: (1) the purpose for which the cattle are to be 

 used, (2) the ability of the individuals to consume feed over and above that 

 required for maintenance, and (3) the probable demand for beef when the 

 cattle are returned from the feed lots. 



Methods of Feeding. — Cattle feeders may be divided into different 

 groups according to their methods of feeding: (1) those who produce 

 market-topping animals, (2) those who handle shortfed cattle, and (3) 

 those who produce the great bulk of beef which usually finds its way to 

 market after a period of grazing or roughing followed by a finishing period 

 of either short or long duration. 



Characteristics of Good Feeders. — It makes little difference which 

 method is followed. The essential characteristics of a good feeding steer 

 remain constant. He must have good constitution and capacity associated 

 with as much quality and type as it is possible to secure. A wide, strong, 

 short head; short, thick neck; and deep, wide chest indicate constitution, 

 and a deep, roomy barrel indicates capacity. These characteristics may 

 be found in steers of plain as well as of excellent breeding, which accounts 

 for the fact that individual dairy and scrub steers frequently make as 

 rapid gains in the feed lot as beef-bred steers. The type, quality, form 

 and finish as indicated by the deep covering of muscle, even distribution 

 of fat, high percentage of the higher priced cuts of meats, high dressing 

 percentage, smoothness and symmetry of carcass, and quality and texture 

 of meat, are always associated with beef blood. 



The success of a feeder buyer depends largely upon his ability to see 

 in thin cattle the possibility of improvement which results from the deposit 

 of fat. As a general rule, there is little change in the skeleton proper. A 

 feeder with a low back will finish into a fat steer with a low back. A feeder 

 with a high tail, head or prominent hook-bones will finish into a fat steer 



