FEEDING BEEF CATTLE 239 



Feeding Older Cattle. — A common practice is to buy 

 cattle at about the age of two years and feed them 

 until they are fat enough for the market. These cattle 

 may be fed from 60 to 90 days, known as " the short 

 feeding period," or from 120 to 180 days, called " the 

 long feeding period." Cattle that have been fed for the 

 short feeding period are called " short fed cattle," and 

 those fed the long period are called " long fed cattle." 



Starting Cattle on Feed. — Cattle should be started on 

 feed gradually. Only a small allowance of concentrated 

 feed should be given. The coarser and cheaper the feed 

 stuffs given at the beginning, the easier it is to get the 

 cattle up to " full feed." 



Full Feed. — Cattle are on " full feed " when they are 

 consuming the maximum allowance of heavy concentrated 

 feeds such as corn and cottonseed meal. It takes from 

 two to four weeks to get cattle on full feed, depending 

 upon the kind and condition of the cattle. Young cattle 

 go on to fuU feed somewhat more slowly than older cattle, 

 and the feeder should be more cautious with young cattle 

 because they get " off their feed " more easily. Cattle 

 in good flesh and used to feeding will go on to fuU feed 

 more quickly than will thin cattle unused to being fed. 



The Feeds for Beef Cattle. — For feeding beef cattle, 

 com should form the principal part of the fattening ration. 

 When on full feed, the steer will consume from 12 to 15 

 pounds of shelled corn per 1000 pounds of live weight 

 daily. In connection with corn the steer should get 

 from 2^ to 3 pounds of cottonseed meal or linseed meal. 

 The general rule for the feeding of cottonseed meal is to 

 give 3 poimds daily per 1000 pounds of Hve weight. The 

 animals should be watched carefully to see that they do 



