290 MANUAL OF FARM ANIMALS 



growth, they have but to fatten; whereas with younger cattle 

 there is continued growth, and to fatten them requires an extra 

 effort, as increasing the grain in the ration. With steers rather 

 rough and coarse in quality that cannot be made prime in any 

 event, there is not the necessity for the heavy grain ration re- 

 quired by steers of finer quality that can be made prime and thus 

 command a premium on the market. This heavy grain ration 

 for the steers of finer quality is likely to increase the cost of gains, 

 making them even more expensive than the lighter grain ration 

 for the coarse steers, but the extra premium commanded on the 

 market will make the finer bred steers the more profitable. The 

 amount of grain that can be fed economically to fattening cattle 

 depends much on the kind of dry forage. On the average 

 animals receiving a leguminous forage, such as clover, alfalfa, 

 or cowpea hay, will make economical use of a larger grain ration 

 than when other forage, such as timothy, red-top, corn stalks, 

 and the like, is fed. In fact, fattening farm animals will make 

 more economical use of a larger -grain ration if the grain also 

 contains a high percentage of protein. The length of the fat- 

 tening period will also have much to do with the amount of 

 grain that should be fed. If it is intended to market the 

 steers in 100 days or less, they will have to be full-fed grain from 

 the beginning if they are to be made reasonably fat, whereas if 

 the feeding period is to last 150 days or more, the cattle may be 

 fed grain rather sparingly at first. 



As to the kind of grain to feed fattening cattle, this likewise 

 depends largely on the cattle and the kind of dry roughage. 

 When rather young steers are being fattened, it is the com- 

 mon opinion that a more nitrogenous ration should be used; 

 hence it is considered the better plan to provide much protein 

 for the young animals, whereas in the case of older and more 

 mature cattle the grain ration often contains less protein. 

 While this plan is usuallj^ recommended, it is well to remember 

 that a ration rich in nitrogenous material has a tendency to 



