22 EXPERIMENTAL FARMS 



6-7 EDWARD VII., A. 1907 



full feed the following ration lias never been surpassed here either as to palatability or 



fatting qualities. 



Lbs. 



Com ensilage 50 



Roots (turnips) 20 



Cut straw (oat) 2 



Clover hay (well cured) 6 



Bran 2 



Corn (ground) 4 



Oil meal. . . . , 2 



The ensilage, pulped roots, chopped straw and meal all mixed together and fed in 

 equal portions night and morning, part of the hay following each feed of chopped 

 forage. 



4. For a number of years a study of the influence of age on the cost of making 

 gains or increasing the weights of steers has been under investigation. Our experi- 

 ments show a fairly regular gradation of cost according to age, that is, the older the 

 animal and the longer on feed the more expensive to make a pound of increase in 

 weight. 



Average results show : 



Cost per 100 lbs. 

 Increase in live weight. 



Steers from birth to 6 montlis $2 24 



" 6 to 12 months 4 11 



" 1 to 2 years 5 49 



" 2^ to 3 years 6 17 



" 3i to 4 years 7 98 



In the fattening period early gains are always very much more cheaply put on 

 than later gains. First month gains with 3-year-olds are not infrequently made at 

 as low a cost as 4 cents per pound while later gains with the same animal may cost 

 from 15 to 20 cents per pound. 



5. Comparing steers fed loose in box stalls with similar steers fed tied in stalls, 

 and making a study of the number that may best be fed together loose in box stalls, 

 our rasults would indicate that : — ■ 



(1) Steers fed in box stalls loose do better than similar steers fed tied on similar 

 feed. 



(2) From eight to ten in a box give better results than a larger number. Steers 

 fed loose together must be fairly uniform as to size and quiet as to disposition. 



6. Experiments in baby beef production show a decided advantage in getting steers 

 ready for the block at as early an age as possible rather than in letting them go till 

 three or four years old before having them ready to kill. Steers' fed here and got 

 ready for the block under two years old have always 1-cft a good profit. Steers kept 

 after that age have shown a loss. 



7. Experiments in feeding for a long period compared as to profits with feeding 

 for a short period have shown that if roughage be relatively more plentiful and cheaper 

 than meal, then the ' long feed ' is the more profitable, but where meal is plentiful 

 and roughage scarce, then the ' short feed ' is likely to be the more profitable. 



8. Experiments in feeding lots of an inferior class of steer in comparison with lots 

 of a medium class of steer and lots of a superior class of steer go to show that the 

 superior class give greater returns for feed fed, make greater gains in a given time, 

 and sell for a higher price than do the inferior class. 



9. Feeding steers twice a day rather than more frequently has been found advis- 

 able. Fe<?ding a succulent ration has been found to be cheaper and more wholesome 

 than an "all dry feed ration. Mixing roughage and meal seems to give better results 

 than feeding them separately. It is advisable to feed some long hay after each 

 chopped feed portion. 



