FEEDING BEEF CATTLE 263 
fattening cattle in summer, in case of feeders in the Mississippi 
valley, and that a margin of $1.50 per hundredweight is necessary 
for six months’ winter feeding with two-year-olds. Data obtained 
by the Purdue (Indiana) station in the same way showed that an 
average spread of $1.07 was required to break even under Indiana 
conditions, and that it cost cattle men in that State $4.80 per 
hundredweight gains in summer and $7.20 for gains in winter. 
Length of Feeding Period.—This will vary from sixty days 
to a year, according to a number of conditions, as kind of stock, 
cost of feed, and market conditions. The various factors affecting 
the length of the fattening period are succinctly stated as follows 
Fia. 61.—Tennessee steers in the feed lot. (Tennessee Station.) 
by Mumford. “The principal factors affecting the length of the 
feeding period are: Method of feeding, grade, condition, and age 
of feeding cattle used. 
“ Method of Feeding.—Where it is desired to feed a ration in 
which there is a large proportion of roughage to grain, the fatten- 
ing process is slow. On the other hand, the feeding of. large pro- 
portions of grain to roughage, or, in other words, the feeding of 
a highly-concentrated ration, usually shortens the fattening period. 
Forced feeding on highly-concentrated rations required for quick 
finisn is, of course, more hazardous than the longer feeding period 
with the more bulky ration. A compromise between the two some- 
what radical methods has been practised with excellent results. 
This compromise method is as follows: For winter fattening 
it Beef Production,” p. 100. 
