STATE AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY. 219 



FEEDING STEERS OF DIFFERENT BREEDS. 



Bulletin No. 24— The Agricultural College of Michigan— Department of Practical 



Agriculture. 



For some years it has seemed to the writer that the feeding of good 

 specimens of the different breeds of cattle from calfhood to maturity, 

 under the same conditions, except amount of food, would be a desirable 

 experiment. 



A careful record of all food consumed, the comparative data as to kind 

 and quality of food, growth, time of maturing, gain for food consumed, 

 etc., would be of permanent value. 



Breeders may make fair or extravagant claims for their favorites; but 

 too often the claim has little foundation, more than " I guess so." Actual, 

 positive knowledge of breeds is what we want. 



Not that one test of this sort would demonstrate beyond question the 

 feeding qualities of the different breeds; but it would be a first step in the 

 right direction, and would prove an instructive object lesson of the habits 

 and capacities of growth of the different animals during the continuance 

 of the trial. 



This would be especially true at our own college, where great stress is 

 laid on the study of the breeds, and the best specimens are procured as 

 aids in illustrating the subject. 



While tests have been made by feeding animals of different breeds for a 

 brief period together, the fact that they had been cared for in different 

 ways for the first year or two, before coming together under, like condi- 

 tions, has greatly lessened the accuracy of any practical results obtained. 



I am not aware of any similar test ever having been made, viz.: the 

 feeding of representative specimens of six pure breeds, brought together at 

 weaning time and cared for under the same conditions, with careful record 

 of the breeding and history of each, the food consumed, its weight and 

 make-up, and such other items as have seemed of value. 



It has seemed to me that two animals of each breed would be better 

 than a larger number for a test of this sort. They should have comfort- 

 able quarters, conveniences for stabling, pasture, water, storage of feed, 

 weighing facilities, and the most prompt and regular attendance. The 

 work ought to be done by one and the same man. With a larger number 

 this would be more difficult. 



It is true that a larger number might give more opportunity to eliminate 

 some elements of uncertainty ; but it is a question whether they would not 

 introduce more, and confuse results rather than make them more accurate. 



Three years ago I called the attention of the Board of Agriculture to 

 the importance of this subject. It met with their approval, but there 

 were no funds with which to procure the animals. Two years ago the 

 Legislature made an appropriation for this special purpose. It was hoped 

 that the breeders of the State, many of whom had expressed themselves 

 in favor of the trial, would furnish such specimens of the breeds as they 

 thought would best uphold the claims of their favorites. 



