BUYING FEEDING CATTLE 19 



feed 100 or more cattle at a time, prefer the market or 

 range as a source of supply. There are obvious reasons 

 for doing so. As a rule, it is impossible to get together 

 locally a large number of well-bred feeding cattle that 

 are uniform in age, type and condition. Buying on the 

 range or in the market frequently effects a saving of 

 time. By taking advantage of a glut in the mar- 

 ket or a lack of demand, the large cattle feeder is able 

 to buy cheaper than he could in the country, as it is gen- 

 erally true that country prices do not fluctuate to the 

 same extent as do market values. Good practice in 

 beef production cannot, however, be established by 

 assuming that abnormal conditions whish will be favor- 

 able to the beef producer will always occur. Where 

 local buying, either for the large or small feeder, is 

 possible, it has distinct advantages, among which are a 

 saving on freight, shrinkage, commission, and other 

 expenses incident to buying; the breeding and normal 

 condition of the cattle may be better determined, no 

 bruising or gaunting incident to shipping, and finally, 

 no acclimatization is necessary. 



HOW TO BUY 



It is assumed that the buyer in quest of feeding cat- 

 tle knows what he wishes and approximately what he 

 ought to pay for it. In case the source of his supply 

 must come from the market it is wise to get in commu- 

 nication with some good live-stock commission company 

 considerably in advance of the time the cattle are need- 

 ed. Commission companies do not know, nor do they 

 assume to know, everything. They do have oppor- 

 tunities of getting information on a wide range of 

 subjects that are of utmost importance to cattle 

 feeders. The permanency and success of their busi- 

 ness depend upon the thoroughness with which they 

 gather, interpret and dispense this information for the 

 benefit of those whom they serve. They are not always 

 able to tell from a feeder's description just what kind of 



