FEEDING BEEF CATTLE 297 



one should choose will depend somewhat on the length of the 

 feeding period and the amount of grain that the cattle feeder 

 plans to feed. 



LENGTH OF FEEDING PERIOD 



The length of the cattle feeding period is extremely variable, 

 ranging from ninety days to fifteen months. Either of these ex- 

 tremes or any intervening time may be profitable under certain 

 conditions. There are several factors affecting the length of 

 the feeding period, chief of which are the kinds of foods, the 

 quahty and condition of the cattle, and the age of the cattle. If 

 the cattle feeder wishes to feed a relatively large proportion of 

 dry forage and a small amount of grain, the fattening process 

 will be slow and the feeding period prolonged; whereas if he 

 wishes to feed a maximum amount of grain and a correspondingly 

 small amount of dry forage, the fattening process will be acceler- 

 ated and the period shortened. If the steers are rough and of 

 such poor quality that they cannot be made prime, the feeding 

 period may be of shorter duration than if the steers are of finer 

 breeding, and of good quality; the extra finish requires much 

 time, but it is considered profitable because of the premium 

 commanded in the market. Furthermore, the age of the cattle 

 affects the length of the feeding period, as in common practice 

 it requires from ninety to one hundred and fifty days to finish 

 mature cattle and approximately fifteen months to finish 

 calves, with intervening ages ranging between these extremes. 



MARKETABLE CONDITION 



The cattle feeder is ofteft at a loss to know just when to mar- 

 ket his cattle. The problem is comphcated all the more by the 

 fact that the finishing process is a very expensive one, and yet 

 this extra finish is what commands the premium of the market. 

 The butcher at the large central market demands excessive fat- 

 ness, and for it he is willing to pay an extra price, whereas the 



