STARTING CATTLE 51 



increased slowly and regularly the gains increase with 

 the extent and concentration of the ration until the 

 gains during the last sixty days of a six-months' feeding 

 period are just as large and frequently as economical as 

 at other periods during the fattening process. Steers 

 so handled can be more safely carried beyond the time 

 planned to market them in case occasion seems to war- 

 rant such holding than they can where started more 

 quickly. 



THE AIM OF THE FEEDER 



Where thirty days to six weeks are employed in 

 getting cattle on full feed the cattle so handled very 

 seldom consume the large amounts of corn and other 

 concentrates reported by cattle feeders who practice 

 getting cattle on feed more rapidly. The gains made per 

 unit of feed consumed are no less than with the quick 

 feed method even though a larger proportion of the 

 ration consists of roughage. The end and aim of the 

 cattle finishing process is, I take it, to get marketable 

 finish at the least cost, considering cost of feeds used and 

 interest on investment. Economical gains contribute 

 very largely in bringing about this result and are, in 

 fact, a more important factor than a little extra time, 

 which may be required by getting cattle on feed in a 

 more rational manner. With good alfalfa or clover 

 hay used as roughage it is 'undoubtedly better practice 

 to get cattle on full feed more slowly than where corn 

 stover, timothy hay, or straw constitute the roughage. 



VALUE OF SUPPLEMENTAL FEEDS 



If for any reason it is desirable to get cattle on feed 

 quickly, the supplementing of corn with some nitrogen- 

 ous concentrate, like ground linseed cake (oil meal), 

 gluten, or cottonseed meal is recommended. Granting 

 that not less than thirty days are to be used in getting 

 cattle on full feed, the writer would feed the cattle all 

 the clover or alfalfa hay they would eat up without 

 waste and in addition start with two pounds of corn per 



