that the value of tlie averaoe steer at this age, weis^hin,^ 

 867 pounds, was |26.01. This gives an average differ- 

 ence of |7.62 between cost of food and selling price, and 

 must cover the cost of the calf at 2 to 4 weeks old, and 

 other items of expense, 



A much more favorable financial showing could have 

 been made had not each of these steers been used in feed- 

 ing experiments during each of two winters. There 

 was no spcial effort to grow the animals as economically 

 as possible when economy conflicted with experimenta- 

 tion as to the comparative value of foods. It is planned 

 to grow in future a lot of grade beef calves with the pri- 

 mary object of producing beef as cheaply as the condi- 

 tions at Auburn permit, and we are confident that with 

 this end in view the cost can be greatlv reduced below 

 the figures given above by the following changes in the 

 method of handing the animals: 



(1) By decreasing the amount of grain in winter and 

 the substitution for it of leguminous hay and winter pas- 

 tures. 



(2) By, the use of cheaper grain food, chiefly cotton 

 seed. 



(3) By causing the calves to be dropped after Christ- 

 mas and keeping them only two winters if they are ready 

 for market. 



In order to make it easier for each reader to draw his 

 own conclusions from the data above and to place his 

 own local prices on the foods used, the following sum- 

 mary of the average amounts of food consumed per ani- 

 mal up to the age of 24.3 months, has been prepared. 



