388 Feeds and Feeding. 



in hide, requires a certain amount of nutriment for mere exist- 

 ence. To supply this only, enables him to continue existence, 

 but does not appease his appetite, which craves still more food. 

 If provender beyond the requirements for maintenance is supplied, 

 more or less of the surplus is converted into fat and stowed away 

 among the muscular tissues of the body, in the bones, under the 

 hide and about the viscera. This fat is fuel in the animal economy, 

 for which Nature shows an eagerness by manufacturing and lay- 

 ing up a certain amount against the time of need. Impelled by a 

 hearty appetite, the steer at first gains rapidly in fat, gratifying 

 the feeder in the increase reported by the scales. After fat- 

 tening has progressed a few montlis, the appetite of the steer 

 loses its keen edge, and he shows a daintiness when taking his 

 food not at first exhibited. If placed on the scales from time to 

 time, he shows smaller and smaller gains. Every pound of in- 

 crease now requires more pounds of feed than at first. The fat- 

 tening process may be likened to inflating a bicycle tire or a foot- 

 ball with air. The operation is rapid and easy at first, but be- 

 comes more and more difficult until the limit is reached. Finally, 

 the steer, though consuming a fair amount of feed, shows no gain 

 whatever. He has been fattened to his limit, and though he may 

 be held there for a time he will soon begin to retrograde, just as 

 a ripened apple grows poorer in quality after perfection has been 

 reached. The feeder, recognizing this, should aim to fatten hia 

 cattle rapidly, and, as soon as they are acceptably fat, dispose of 

 them without delay. To continue fattening longer than demanded 

 by the market, or to hold cattle when once fattened, adds greatly 

 to their cost. (565) 



595. Cost of feeding increases with age. — Excluding birth 

 weight, the steer maintains a practically uniform rate of gain 

 until he becomes two years old. While this is true in relation to 

 gain in weight, we have shown that the cost of producing the gain 

 in the second year is about double that for the first, and for the 

 third the cost is about three times that of the first year. Recog- 

 nizing these facts, the stockman who grows the cattle he feeds 

 should place them on the market at as early a date as possible, 

 other conditions being equal. (563-4) 



