Acre Returns Compared with Animal Returns

Abstract

More of our cattle feeders are interested in the returns they receive from an acre of corn fed to their cattle than in the profit each steer makes. Certainly these men are interested in the profit per steer line of tables reporting cattle feeding results, but they are also interested in seeing, whenever possible, results showing acre returns. Some of our tests do not adapt themselves to this type of reporting. Two Groups of Cattle Feeders We can divide our men who feed cattle into two general groups. Group one we will designate as cattle feeders. These men think in terms of their cattle feeding operations as their major farm operations. They grow corn to fatten cattle; usually they supplement their own corn crop with purchases of corn or corn substitutes. The majority of this group purchase much of their feed and some purchase all of it. This group contains many of our large feeders.