Beef Producers of the ]]^est 43 



winter will sell them off as "twos." The range-men, 

 however, do not undertake a great amount of winter 

 fattening. 



The age and weight of cattle marketed depend a great 

 deal on whether they are marketed for feeders or for 

 beef. The cattle marketed in the fall for winter-feed- 

 ing purposes range in weight from 900 to 1100 pounds, 

 with much the larger number coming between 950 and 

 1050. The cattle that are fat enough for beef usually 

 weigh between 1000 and 1300, with the larger portion 

 between 1100 and 1200. The ages at which cattle be- 

 come fat enough for beef and reach a weight of 1100 to 

 1200 will depend on the system of feeding. The cattle 

 marketed as feeders are commonly two-year-olds, al- 

 though some calves and yearlings go to the Corn-Belt 

 for feeding purposes. The cattle marketed for beef are 

 sometimes twos but more commonly threes. Many 

 statements are heard to-day to the effect that the day of 

 the three-year-old is past and that the two-year-old can- 

 not last long. Such statements should not be taken too 

 literally as applied to the western country. There are 

 enormous districts which have plenty of grass of a low 

 grade, but only a limited amount of hay and no grain. 

 Such a country cannot produce a fat yearling at a profit, 

 but in order to utilize their feed and grass properly must 

 keep the steer until he is two or three years old. The 

 price of cattle also influences early maturity. When 

 cattle are high, the producers can afford to feed them 

 large amounts of hay and even grain, but when prices are 

 low producers are compelled to use only feeds which 

 have no other value, and this means the bunch-grass on 

 the range. Under strictly open range conditions with 

 only hay enough for wintering, steers at an age of about 



