12 
BULLETIN 1454, U. S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE 
Table 2. — Gain, pasture, and labor requirement of cattle grazed on pastures in 
Chase County, Kans., in 1921, 1922, and 1923 — Continued 
Item 
Number of head 
Number of herds. 
Average number per herd 
Pasture record: 
Days on grass 
Out weight 2 _. pounds.. 
Initial weight do 
Gain per season do 
Gain per day do 
Acreage per head acres.. 
Gain in beef per acre...- .pounds. . 
Acreage producing 100 pounds gain acres. . 
Labor per month per 100 head : 
Man labor hours.. 
Horse labor do 
Class of steers by year 
Half-fat 2-year-old 
steers 
1921 1922 1923 
341 
4 
85 
165 
972 
705 
267 
1.62 
4.75 
56.2 
1.78 
52.5 
44.9 
768 
5 
154 
175 
973 
685 
288 
1.65 
4.11 
70.1 
1.43 
21.8 
26.5 
155 
2 
78 
155 
912 
679 
233 
1.50 
5.22 
44.6 
2.24 
52.3 
52.5 
Thin yearling 
steers * 
1921 1923 
272 
2 
136 
160 
635 
390 
245 
1.53 
3.01 
81.4 
1.23 
16.5 
12.7 
40 
1 
40 
168 
595 
389 
206 
1.23 
3.93 
52.4 
1.91 
81.6 
63.8 
Half-fat yearling 
steers 
1921 
155 
3 
52 
184 
766 
490 
276 
1.50 
4.79 
57.6 
1.74 
34.6 
21.4 
131 
1 
131 
169 
769 
511 
258 
1.53 
4.03 
64.0 
1.56 
29.3 
1923 
81 
187 
718 
525 
193 
1.03 
4.00 
48.2 
2.07 
20.5 
18.1 
i None in 1922. 
* The out weight is the total weight of the cattle on leaving the pastures whether sold or lost by death. 
This weight is given on a Kansas City basis (allowing for shrink on steers that did not leave Chase County). 
COST OF CARRYING STEERS ON GRASS 
The grass cost per head, as given in Table 3, is the amount paid 
for grass used by each steer during the grazing season. From the 
lease fee has been subtracted the cost of all items other than grass and 
the balance used as the " grass cost." Where the owner of the cattle 
also owned the grass, the steers are charged with the amount that 
could be obtained for the grass, if the pasture has been leased. The 
other cost items are figured at current rates for services performed. 
Table 3 gives the details of costs by kinds of cattle yearly. Cattle 
of every age and degree of flesh were not always brought into the 
Flint Hills every year and studied, and so figures can not be given for 
every kind of cattle every year. 
Yearlings had the lowest carrying charge per head, owing princi- 
pally to lower grass requirements and a lower capital investment per 
steer upon which interest was charged. The higher carrying costs for 
the aged steers came from a higher capital investment and larger grass 
area used per steer. The few herds of thin 2-year-old steers in 1922 
and 1923 had, in the first year, a carrying charge of $10.93, and in the 
second year, $10.70 per head. Half -fat 2-year-old steers had a carry- 
ing charge of $11.75 in 1921, $10.12 in 1922, and $12.48 in 1923. 
The cost of carrying thin, aged cattle on grass averaged $12.43 a 
head for 10 herds in 1921, $10.68 a head for 15 herds in 1922, and 
$10.91 a head for 13 herds in 1923. Of these annual carrying costs, 
the grass charge approximated 75 per cent. The next cost item in 
order of importance, was interest upon the investment in cattle, 
which varied with the value of the cattle when going on grass, and 
the length of time they were held there. Man labor, horse work, loss 
from death of steers, and miscellaneous upkeep items made the 
remainder. The half -fat, aged steers were carried for approximately 
the same cost as the thin, aged steers. The cost of carrying a fat, 
aged steer for the season was $13.08 in 1921 and $12.36 in 1923. 
