310 



FEEDS AND FEEDING, ABRIDGED 



or unhusked ear corn, or shelled corn, but few using corn meal or 

 corn-and-cob meal thruout the fattening period. To induce young 

 animals to eat sufficient corn to overcome their tendency to grow 

 rather than to fatten, more preparation is warranted than for older 

 animals. Many skilled feeders seek to "keep the feed better than the 

 cattle," i.e., prepare the feed more as the cattle gain in flesh. Thus, 

 they may start the steers on shock corn, then as they require more 

 concentrates, add snapped corn or ear corn; still later the ear corn 

 is broken or shelled ; and toward the close of the fattening period, to 

 tempt them to consume a heavier allowance of grain, corn meal or 



Fig. 86. — Fattening Steers Bating Shock Corn 



Feeding shock corn is an economical practice, especially during the first of the 

 fattening period. Later, more preparation of the corn may be profitable. (From 

 Successful Farming.) 



corn-and-cob meal is employed. Silage from well-matured corn is 

 the most palatable form in which the entire corn plant can be offered 

 to the steer. In addition to the grain in this succulent feed, some 

 corn should be fed, usually in the form of shelled corn or ear corn. 



Since corn long stored in the crib becomes dry and hard, for sum- 

 mer feeding the grain should be soaked or shelled, or possibly ground. 



Other cereals. — In sections of the West where corn does not thrive 

 barley is of much importance for fattening cattle. This grain is 

 equal to or but slightly lower than corn in value. 



Wheat is seldom fed to cattle except when off grade or unusually 

 low in price. As wheat is less palatable than corn, steers may not 



