Fattening Steers 83 



six months. The average feeding period here will be from 

 three to five months. After this time the gains are slower 

 and consequently more expensive. A very high finish is 

 difficult to obtain on hay alone and when obtained does 

 not usually bring enough money to pay for the cost. It 

 is the consensus of opinion among practical feeders that 

 it does not pay to feed hay longer than four or five months, 

 unless unusual conditions prevail. Four months is the 

 most convenient time to feed on most ranches. The 

 feeding cannot well commence before time to bring the 

 cattle in from the ranges and, on the other hand, they 

 should be out of the way in time to prepare for the spring 

 work; and four months will usually about fit these ex- 

 tremes. The market and the amount of hay on hand in- 

 fluence the exact time of selling. If one starts with the 

 intention of feeding three months he may see that there 

 is a chance for a better price earlier, or perhaps he may 

 not want to sell until after his hay is all gone, so as to 

 avoid carrying feed over until the next season. 



MARKETING 



A fat steer full of feed and water will ordinarily weigh 

 about 4 per cent more than if he has been without feed and 

 water for twelve hours. On account of this variation in 

 weight, allowance is often made in selling for this fill. 

 This allowance is usually spoken of as "shrinking." 

 When steers are sold locally, they are usually shrunk 

 by standing twelve hours without feed and water or by 

 weighing full and deducting 4 per cent. There is not 

 much difference between the two ways of shrinking. 

 When shipped to the large markets, cattle are not shrunk, 

 and in fact obtain all the feed and water they want before 



