PDED AND CARE OF FATTENING CATTLE 21 3 



Preparing for the Fall Market. — When cattle are to be mar- 

 keted in the fall it is not necessary to feed grain in the early 

 summer. In the fall when the corn is ripe, shocked or snapped 

 corn may be distributed over the pasture or fed in a rack in the 

 field. It is desirable to feed a small quantity, 3 to 4 lbs., of 

 corn at first, gradually increasing to a full feed of 15 lbs. a 

 day. The cattle may be fed in this way until ready for market 

 which will usually be sometime before the winter sets in. An 

 addition of a protein concentrate is desirable in this system 

 of fattening. 



Water and Salt. — A plentiful supply of pure water should be 

 supplied to cattle in the lot twice a day. In pastures a good 

 spring will often furnish the water for range feeders. In cold 

 weather it is beneficial to take the chill from water with some 

 form of heater to cause cattle to drink enough water. 



As with dairy cattle, rock salt or pulverized salt should be 

 placed in a sheltered box in the feed lot. When the steers are 

 kept in barns or feed lots, ^ to ij4 ounces a day will be enough. 

 Some feeders add common salt to the grain but it is necessary 

 not to supply too much and make the feed unpalatable. 



Shelter. — In the summer when the flies are troublesome fat- 

 tening cattle often fail to gain unless they are taken to some 

 dark, cool enclosure for a short time each day during the worst 

 periods and fed some grain. Every pasture should have some 

 trees to furnish shade. When cattle are fattened for the fall 

 market a shelter should be provided in the pasture to protect the 

 cattle during the cold fall rains. 



Bedding induces the cattle to rest when they are kept in a 

 feed lot or barn. Often a feed lot becomes muddy and a liberal 

 supply of straw as bedding provides comfort and contentment. 



Rations for Fattening Cattle. — ^There are many rations that 

 may be computed for fattening cattle. The feeder should aim to 

 utilize the cheap coarser feeds, by-products and wastes. By so 

 doing, feed stuffs that ordinarily would go to waste or bring 

 low prices on the market, may be profitably converted into beef. 

 The amount of feed in a fattening ration will depend upon the 

 age, weight, appetite and capacity of the animal. A feeder must 



