WHOLE COST OP BULLOCK. 273 



laxative enough for health, and its oil is also worth all it 

 costs in laying on fat. The corn is very rich in starch, and 

 the peas, oats and flax-seed in albuminoids ; and the straw 

 is so softened by the steaming, and so permeated with the 

 flavor of the grain, as to give it a fine relish for the steers. 

 The increase of the steers in live weight was 300 Ibs. per 

 head, or 3 Ibs. per day. These steers sold for 6M cents live 

 weight ; and the account stood thus : 



Dr. 



10 steers, 12,100 Ibs., at 4^ cents $544.50 



13,250 Ibs. of grain, at $1.10 145.75 



6,000 Ibs. of hay, at 60 cents 36.00 



13,500 Ibs. of straw, at 40 cents 54.00 



$780.25 

 Cr. 

 By 10 steers, 15,100 Ibs., at 6# cents 943.75 



Balance to pay labor and profit $163.50 



Here the amount of dry substance in the food is only 

 9.51 Ibs. for one pound increase, or 24 per cent, less than 

 Lawes' estimate ; and here, again, we see the effect of cook- 

 ing and a warm stable. It is also evident that such thrifty 

 steers will pay for feeding, while cattle of the slow-growing 

 class are always fed at a loss. In this last case everything 

 fed is charged at full prices, and yet the increase in weight 

 fully pays all, with a respectable balance. It is true that 

 the 3,000 Ibs. increase, at 6M cents would not pay for the 

 food; but this increase renders the whole carcass worth 1% 

 cents per pound more, and this is a legitimate part of the 

 increase. Here the actual cost of food for each pound 

 increase was 7.83 cents ; but Mr. Lawes says, that at this 

 stage of feeding 70 per cent, of this increase consists of 

 valuable carcass, and this would render it worth one-sixth 

 more than the average of the whole carcass. 



WHOLE COST OF THE BULLOCK. 



But we can never arrive at the cost of beef until we 

 include the cost of the animal from birth to the last day of 



