FINISHING CATTLE ON PASTURE 179 



to the pasture to the full extent of their capacity to 

 consume it. When corn is thus fed it is strewn over 

 the pastures. Swine, of course, foHow the cattle. When 

 two pastures can be used for such feeding, much sav- 

 ing will be effected in the corn. 



When shock corn is fed, the cattle that are being 

 fattened consume practically all the ears and some of 

 the fodder, and the next day they will feed similarly 

 in the other pasture, thus alternating from day to day. 

 Store cattle follow and gather up any ears left and also 

 consume much of the stalks. Swine accompany the 

 store cattle. The alternating in the feeding may be 

 made daily, that is, with each meal, if necessary. 



In areas where corn is abundant this is considered 

 one of the most profitable ways of feeding it, because 

 of the small amount of labor involved. When fed thus. 

 husking and shredding are rendered unnecessary, and 

 the resultant fertility reaches the soil without any labor 

 involved in handling the same. 



When cattle are fed thus in any considerable num- 

 ber, some will, of course, finish earlier than others. 

 Those that finish first should be sorted out and sent to 

 the market, the others being fed for a longer period. 

 Those finished late will reach the market in competi- 

 tion with beef from the western ranges, that is, when 

 supplies are plentiful in the market, but because of their 

 better finish they will command a better price than the 

 latter. 



Should cold autumn storms prevail, it is greatly im- 

 portant to protect such cattle from them during their 

 continuance; especially is this true of sleet storms. In 

 certain areas it may also be necessary to give them the 

 shelter of a shed well littered after the nights become 

 cool beyond a certain limit. 



Miscellaneous observations. — The following obser- 

 vations, general in character, will now be submitted: 



