General Principles of Live-stock Production 31 



food-producing animal but the gain made on a hundred 

 pounds of feed by a growing colt is possibly even lower 

 than from the steer. These figures are very generally 

 used by the boosters of the dairy and hog industry as 

 evidence that the dairy cow or the pig is a very much 

 more profitable animal than the steer or sheep. The 

 amount of digestible nutrients required, however, to make 

 a hundred pounds of gain is only one side of the question. 



In all animals there is a very great difference in the 

 proportion of feed which must be derived from concen- 

 trates as compared with the proportion which is derived 

 from the roughages and pastures. For example, beef 

 cattle, range horses, and range sheep can be and are raised 

 very successfully and profitably without the use of any 

 concentrates whatever. Even farm sheep will use but a 

 very small amount of grain, deriving practically all of 

 their sustenance from hay and pasture. This is very 

 significant in view of the fact that one hundred pounds 

 of digestible nutrients from grain will cost $1.50 to $2; 

 from hay about 50 cents to 75 cents; and from pasture, 

 5 cents to 25 cents. The pig must derive as much as 75 

 to 90 per cent of his sustenance from the grains or concen- 

 trates. The dairy cow requires less concentrates than the 

 hog, and on the other hand very much more than beef 

 cattle and sheep. 



Another very important factor in grazing countries is 

 the extent to which these animals can utilize the pastures 

 and ranges. For example, we find that horses, beef 

 cattle, and sheep are sometimes run on range the year 

 round, and derive their entire support from this source 

 without the use of any other feed whatever. This is not 

 the general custom, since they are usually given some feed 

 for winter, but probably from two-thirds to three-fourths 



