STATE AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY. 221 



In accordance with this recommendation I was instructed to procure, as 

 soon as practicable, good specimens of the breeds on reasonable terms. 

 I found more difficulty in procuring the animals than I had anticipated. 



It will he noticed that four of the animal a in the test were bred at the 

 college. 



All of the gentlemen furnishing steers have been liberal in pricing their 

 animals for this purpose. 



I think the selections are of such character and quality as will merit 

 the approval of the advocates of each breed represented. 



The steers have been kept when in barn in roomy box-stalls, well sup- 

 plied with bedding. During the hot weather they were stabled during 

 the day and allowed to run on short pasture at night. When the weather 

 became cooler the order was reversed, and they were stabled at night and 

 in pasture in daytime. 



FOOD. 



The grain ration, up to January tenth, was composed of equal parts by 

 weight of wheat bran, oats whole or ground, and old process oil meal. 

 From January tenth, we substituted corn and oats ground (in the propor- 

 tion of two thirds corn and one third oats) for the clear oats. 



The hay has been clover and timothy of good quality. All of the hay 

 has been cut before feeding. The ensilage was corn. They have been fed 

 and watered regularly three times daily, and usually groomed; have had 

 daily exercise. 



On the following pages will be found a history of the animals, and a 

 table giving the daily grain and hay ration, the total food consumed in 

 each period, the weight at beginning and end of period, and the gain for 

 each month. 



HOLSTEIN BELTZ. 



Calved November 17, 1885; bred by Seeley & Coleman, Lansing, Mich- 

 igan; sire, Nicholas 3d, 263 D. F. H. B.; dam, Wiesman's Sjoeratzi, 972. 

 Nicholas 3d weighed 1850 lbs. in breeding condition, at 2^ years old. 

 Beltz weighed at birth 121 lbs.; castrated February 9, 1886. 



He was taken from the cow when four days old, fed four quarts new 

 milk night and morning, and three quarts skimmed milk at noon until 

 four weeks old. During second month, two quarts of skimmed milk was 

 fed with two quarts new milk night and morning, and three quarts skimmed 

 milk, with two tablespoons oil meal at noon. 



The feed during the third month was four quarts skimmed milk and 

 two tablespoons oil meal three times a day. 



The feed during the fourth month was five quarts skimmed milk with 

 one half pound of mixture of five pounds ground oats to one pound oil 

 meal three times per day. During the fifth month the feed was six 

 quarts skimmed milk twice a day and four and a half pounds corn meal 

 and oat meal, equal parts, in three feeds. At five months commenced to 

 diminish the milk until five and one half months old; had no milk after 

 that time; was out on grass night and day, and had four and one half 

 pounds corn and oat meal in two feeds. 



HOLSTEIN STEER NICHOLAS. 



Calved February 26, 1886; bred by Michigan Agricultural College, Lan- 

 sing: sire, Nicholas 3d, 263 D. F. H. B.; dam, Mae, 112 D. F. H. B.; 



