176 Animal Husbandry 
This would seem to indicate that the aged steer in fattening 
required considerably more solid food, particularly those foods 
rich in fat, whereas the calf requires less fat, and less dry-matter 
to the pound of gain. As water is cheaper than fat we would 
expect the calf to make the cheaper gains, and such is the case. 
Not only does the age influence the cheapness of the gains, but it 
affects the rate of gain as well. The younger animal having the 
advantage. 
289. Form for feeding cattle. — The form of the steers should 
be such as to meet two conditions: those demanded by the cattle 
feeder, and those demanded by the butcher. The cattle feeder 
wishes an animal that will make rapid and economical gains 
in the feed lot, while the butcher wishes one that will dress a 
relatively high percentage of edible meat, particularly of the 
high-priced cuts, such as prime of rib, porterhouse, sirloin, rump, 
and round, which are taken from the back, loin, rump, and quar- 
ters. In general the form that best fills these conditions will be 
low set, deep, broad, and compact, rather than high up, gaunt, 
narrow, loosely made. 
Cattle possessing: such a form are likely to prove rapid and 
economic producers while in the feed lot, thus making a profit 
for the feeder, and when slaughtered to dress a relatively high 
percentage of edible meat, particularly of the high-priced cuts. 
Such an animal should dress out 55 to 60 per cent or better 
with approximately one-half of the edible meat in the region 
of the.valuable cuts, and this will sell for about 75 per cent 
of the value of the entire carcass, leaving the other half from 
the region of low-priced meat to bring the other 25 per cent 
of the valuation. 
290. Condition of feeding cattle. —In considering steers to 
feed, their condition should be carefully scrutinized from two points 
of view: their thrift, and the amount of flesh they possess. Feed- 
ing cattle should be thrifty but not coarse. On the other hand, 
too much refinement is likely to prove disappointing, as it often 
