CHAPTER XIX. 



MARKETABLE CONDITION. PREPARING 

 CATTLE FOR SHIPMENT 



WHEN IS A STEER READY FOR MARKET? 



If this question were put to the buyers of any of the 

 packing companies they would instinctively answer, 

 "When fat, or in a condition popularly spoken of as fin- 

 ished." Their answer to the question would be entirely 

 from their standpoint and not from the standpoint of 

 the cattle feeder. It is undoubtedly true that one of 

 the commonest faults among market cattle is lack of 

 condition, and this fault is most common with cattle 

 fed by beginners. However, even experienced cattle 

 feeders frequently ship cattle to market that, to fully 

 ripen, would require full feeding for sixty, and, in some 

 instances, as many as ninety days. Clearly, therefore, 

 experienced cattle feeders must believe that they get 

 larger net returns by so handling cattle, or they would 

 have long ago discontinued the practice. The writer 

 appreciates the fact that it takes the highest finish to 

 bring top prices, but at the same time it must be borne 

 in mind that a steer must be something more than fat 

 or ripe to sell as prime. 



If experienced cattle feeders were asked to express 

 an opinion as to when a steer is ready for market, they 

 would almost universally agree that he is ready for 

 market, or, at any rate, should be shipped to market at 

 a time when he will net the feeder the greatest profit. 

 This is an extremely difficult matter to figure out, for 

 the condition of fat cattle that will net the feeder the 

 largest profit may not be, and often is not, the con- 

 dition that will bring the top price for any given grade 

 or quality of cattle. Another factor that plays an im- 



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