46 THE MANAGEMENT AND FEEDING OF CATTLE 



:n racks of suitable make in the yard. It is usually more 

 convenient to feed coarse fodders, as corn, in such racks. 



The second winter, young cattle are able to use to 

 a considerable extent, fodders that are on hand, and yet 

 are not suited to some other kinds of feeding. For in- 

 stance, straw of various kinds may form a considerable 

 proportion of the fodder given to such calves, with suit- 

 able adjuncts, whereas the same would not furnish 

 suitable fodder for milch cows, at least in any consider- 

 able quantities, and yet cattle at the age of those now 

 being considered cannot utilize the coarsest foods as can 

 those that are older. Those intended for baby beef 

 must have the best of hay; those for beef at a later stage 

 of maturity can utilize a coarser grade of hay, and it 

 may be also straw, while those intended for breeding 

 may be largely fed on straw, providing the other ad- 

 juncts are suitable. Where clover or alfalfa are abun- 

 dant and cheap, these alone may be made to carry the 

 cattle through the winter in good form. If corn fodder 

 or any of the sorghums are fed to these, the aim should 

 be to feed them of fine growth rather than coarse. 



The concentrates fed should be chosen with refer- 

 ence, first, to the objects for which the animals are being 

 grown ; second, to the fodders available ; and, third, to 

 the relative cost of the concentrates. Those grown for 

 beef at a later period may or may not need concentrates, 

 but usually more or less may be fed to them with profit. 

 Those one-year-old that are being grown for baby beef 

 must be fed heavily of concentrates. Those grov/n for 

 breeding may not need concentrates. If given suitable 

 fodders and roots they may come through the winter 

 and make a sufficient growth without them. 



AA^hen straw of the cereals only is fed, or stalks, as 

 of corn or the sorghums, the aim should be to feed 

 concentrates rich in protein, as wheat bran, middlings, 

 oilcake, pea meal, soy bean meal, or cottonseed meal. 

 Ground oats are always in order for such feeding when 



