274 PRODUCTIVE FEEDING OF FARM ANIMALS 
in Wyoming, Nevada, Texas, and other western and southwestern 
States are fattened each year in the open valleys of the mountainous 
States and in California, receiving no feed but alfalfa hay, fed 
either long or cut (chopped). The cattle do not generally get fat 
on this feed, but the gains made are relatively cheap. As these 
cattle are fed in racks in open corrals, the gains which they make 
are dependent, to a large extent, on the winter weather and the 
condition of the corrals, as well as on the quality of the steers and 
of the feed supply. In case of muddy corrals and feed lots the 
gains made by the steers will be greatly reduced; this applies with 
still more force to hogs with the steers. Paved or cement feed. 
lots, or at least feed bunks with wooden platforms, make a profit- 
able investment. The necessary equipment for cattle feeding will 
vary with the climate, and especially the rigor of the winter season. 
Steers comfortably kept and receiving good care will yield greater 
profits than those that have to shift more or less for themselves 
and are exposed to the inclemency of the weather, without shelter 
or protection from rains or snow, cold winds, or intense sunshine. 
Steers fed alfalfa only will eat 25 to 35 pounds of alfalfa hay 
per head daily. Under favorable conditions good steers will gain 
two to two and one-half pounds a day on this feed; the average 
would, however, be likely to come below two pounds per head daily, 
rather than above this figure. The steers go on the market weigh- 
ing from 1000 to 1200 pounds, and have a dressing percentage of 
56 to 60° per cent. There is a preference shown on the western 
markets for medium steers weighing less than 1150 pounds. In the 
vicinity of the western sugar factories wet or cured beet pulp is fed 
mixed with chopped alfalfa hay. The common feeding period is 
60 to 90 days, depending on the gains made and the condition of 
the market. Grain is rarely fed to either these or alfalfa-fed 
steers, as the market does not call for finished steers, that are as fat 
as required by the central or eastern markets. Steers fed chopped 
alfalfa hay and beet pulp will generally eat about 100 pounds pulp 
and 15 pounds alfalfa hay per head daily, and will gain about two 
pounds a day on this feed (p. 194). 
Beef Production in Eastern and Southern States.— While the 
West and Southwest supply the bulk of the beef cattle in this 
country, a large number of cattle are being fattened every year in 
the eastern and southern States. The cattle industry is especially 
of increasing importance in the latter section. The South has 
many advantages for beef production, as, in fact, for animal hus- 
bandry in general. Forage crops of a great variety suited for 
