FEEDING BEEF CATTLE 267 
are, in general, similar to those fed dairy cows, but the feeding 
of Indian corn predominates, being of far greater importance for 
this purpose than all other grain feeds combined. It is the great 
fattening feed of America, and, on account of its high starch and 
oil contents and high digestibility, may be considered the most 
important factor in both beef and pork production in this country. 
Corn is fed to fattening steers in the majority of cases as snapped 
Fia. 62.—Steer feeding barns and feeding troughs on a California cattle ranch. (See alsa 
Fig. 31.) (Pacific Rural Press.) 
(unhusked) or husked ear corn or whole shelled corn. It is crushec, 
ground, or soaked only in exceptional cases, viz., when very dry 
and hard on account of having been stored long in the crib. Being 
only medium or low in protein, it is supplemented to advantage in 
feeding steers with legume hay, or some high-protein feed, like 
linseed meal or cotton-seed meal, which is fed two to three pounds 
a day during the last sixty days of the fattening period (Figs. 
62 and 63). 
