FEEDING BEEF CATTLE 295 



HOGS FOLLOWING GRAIN-FED CATTLE 



Among grain-fed cattle, hogs are considered indispensable to 

 profitable beef production. Cattle receiving a rather heavy 

 grain ration fail to digest the grain completely, and hogs, if 

 given a chance, will pick up this grain and convert it into pork. 

 So great is the saving thus effected that beef production is sel- 

 dom profitable without the hog. The principal questions in 

 connection with hogs following grain-fed cattle are: the kind 

 of hogs to use, the number of hogs to a steer, the advisability 

 of feeding the hogs grain in addition to what they get from the 

 droppings, and the gains that the hogs may be expected to 

 make. 



The most satisfactory hog to follow grain-fed cattle is one 

 weighing approximately 100 pounds and thin in flesh. If the 

 hogs are too heavy or too fat, they do not make good rustlers, 

 and will fail to find all the droppings, especially in pasture. 

 On the other hand, it is not good practicie to use pigs too young 

 because of the danger of injury from the cattle. Brood sows 

 are oftentimes used to follow cattle. They are not likely to 

 be good rustlers, however, and will fail to find many of the 

 droppings, especially if heavy with pig. 



The advisability of feeding grain in addition to that ob- 

 tained from the droppings will depend much on the conditions. 

 If the price of cattle is high and that of hogs low, one would 

 prefer to allow the hogs only what they gather from the drop- 

 pings; whereas if the price of hogs is high and cattle low, 

 then it would no doubt be more profitable to feed the hogs 

 in addition, especially since hogs are more economical feeders 

 than cattle. The great majority of cattle feeders use grain in 

 addition to that secured from the droppings. 



The number of hogs to follow each steer will depend on two 

 conditions : the form in which the grain is fed, whole or ground; 

 and whether extra grain is fed in addition to that obtained 



