CARE AND MANAGEMENT OF BEEF CATTLE 321 



desire to push the cattle to better gains, which not only 

 often induces scours, but has a tendency to throw the 

 cattle off feed. Cattle of about the same size and strength 

 should be fed in the same lot or pasture, while weak animals 

 and those unable to push their way to the feed-rack and get 

 their share should be placed where they can be supplied in 

 quiet. Strong animals often push the weak away from the 

 feed-troughs, which not only prevents the weaker from feeding, 

 but enables the stronger to get an overfeed, resulting in scours 

 or other digestive disorders. Unwholesome food, or a fault in 

 the feeding mixture, may result in scours. 



At a glance, the successful and experienced cattle feeder 

 recognizes the shortcomings among his fattening cattle. By 

 going through the feed lots, noting the condition of the 

 manure or droppings, their general appearance and odor, by 

 noting the feed-boxes and the general conduct of the cattle, he 

 is able to discern their needs, and governs himself accordingly. 

 The droppings of the steers are an excellent index to the prog- 

 ress of fattening cattle. While these droppings should never 

 be hard, they should, however, be thick enough to pile up and 

 have that greasy or bland appearance that indicates a healthy 

 action of the hver. The droppings from steers that are not 

 fattening well, or suffering from indigestion, have a disagreeable 

 odor. Sour-smelHng odors, and thin watery droppings indicate 

 something wrong with the feeding cattle. 



The behavior of the cattle is a further index to their general 

 thrift and progress in fattening. Their quiet pose while rumi- 

 nating; their peculiar loud breathing when lying down, due 

 no doubt to the cramped position of the internal organs be- 

 cause of a well-filled paunch ; the quiet and prominent eyes ; 

 their manner of approaching the feed-box; the way in which 

 they feed ; their mellow skin and oily coat ; and in fact each 

 movement, gives the experienced cattle feeder a clew as to their 

 general condition. 



