FEEDING BEEF CATTLE 283 



as to how well he shall winter these animals. That is to say, 

 he is often at a loss to know whether to feed a small allowance of 

 grain along with the roughage or to feed the roughage alone. 

 If he feeds the roughage alone, it is doubtful whether the steers 

 can be wintered without loss in weight, unless the roughage is 

 of good quality and a legume, such as clover, alfalfa, or cowpea 

 hay. On the other hand, if he feeds grain, then comes the ques- 

 tion as to how much shall be fed, for it is well known that if 

 steers are grained too liberally through the winter, they will 

 not do so well the following summer on pasture. 



While different systems of feeding should undoubtedly be 

 recommended for cattle of various ages and quality, there are at 

 least three conditions that should be kept clearly in mind : first, 

 cattle wintered on roughage alone, providing they retain their 

 thrift, will make more economical beef producers the following 

 summer on pasture than when they receive grain along with 

 the roughage; second, cattle wintered on a too liberal grain 

 ration may fail to make a profit the following summer on pas- 

 ture ; and third, other things being equal, cattle wintered on a 

 ration containing a liberal supply of protein, particularly if this 

 protein is contained in the roughage, as clover, alfalfa, or cow- 

 pea hay, will make greater and more economical gains during 

 both winter and summer than if this nitrogenous roughage is 

 wanting. It is true that animals receiving this nitrogenous 

 roughage will not finish or fatten so quickly, but they will make 

 gains more economically, and the quality of the flesh will 

 be better than otherwise. From practical experience, there- 

 fore, it would seem best to provide considerable protein 

 in the ration of the wintering stocker or feeder. If this 

 protein is lacking in the roughage, in which it should be 

 provided if possible, then supply the needed protein by 

 feeding such grains as cotton-seed meal or linseed-oil meal 

 in rather limited quantities in the grain ration. In case 

 the grain is fed no suggestions can be given as to the exact 



