One Substitute for the Aged Steer to Utilize Bluestem Grass

Abstract

The work herein reported offers several suggestions, among which one might direct especial attention to: Calves wintered well, grazed on bluestem grass without other feed until Aug. 1 and then full-fed 100 days offer a practical and profitable method of marketing farm crops as well as grass. Calves handled as indicated above will make greater gains on a given amount of grain in a dry lot than on bluestem pasture after Aug. 1. Calves wintered with some grain, grazed to Aug. 1 and then full-fed in a dry lot should enable one to sell his cattle at near the top of the market. In each case cattle handled in this manner have sold within $.75 per cwt. of the top for long-fed yearlings the day of sale. There may not be a great deal of difference in the ultimate net returns from calves fed grain and those fed no grain during the winter period. However, one is surer of a sufficient amount of finish to command a high selling price if calves are fed some grain during the wintering period. Calves weighing approximately 350 pounds at the beginning of the feeding period are more desirable than heavier calves. They make more economical gains and find a better demand when finished. This method is particularly advantageous to the farmer who has bluestem grass and a limited amount of grain. The production of a finish that commands a price near the top of the market and slightly more than 600 pounds of gain from 40 bushels of corn reduces production costs and increases profits materially. Further possibilities for the production of a satisfactory market finish on yearlings with a minimum consumption of grain are seen in lots C and C1 where no grain was fed during the wintering period. The average of these two lots shows a production of nearly 600 pounds of gain from 27 bushels of corn.