68 



The rate of increase in weight was not nearly so rapid as it might have been if 

 all the animals had been fed in a stable, where they could feed and lie undisturbed. 

 In our stable there is such a succession of visitors that the animals are disturbed, I 

 suppose, a dozen times daily. The disturbances and consequent unfavourable con- 

 ditions were alike for all the animals, and did not interfere with the fairness of the 

 comparison, although they did hinder the rapidity of the fattening. 



The six steers were fed on the same ration until 29th December. They were 

 divided into thi-ee lots of nearly equal age and weight, and evidently of similar breeding. 

 The main object of the test was to discover the value of corn ensilage as compared 

 with common hay. One lot of steers were fed on a ration composed of hay, roots 

 and meal ; another lot of steers were fed on a ration of corn ensilage, with the same 

 kind and quantity of meal; and the third lot of steers were fed on a ration consisting 

 of corn ensilage, hay and roots, and an equal quantity of meal of the same quality 

 as the other two rations contained. 



The compositions of the rations were as follows : — 



First Lot op Steers, Nos. 1 and 2 : 



Lb. 



Hay 20 



Turnip- 40 



'Straw 5 



Chopped barley 2 



■{ do pease 2 



Ground oil-cake 1 



1 Cotton-seed meal 1 



71 



For a period of five weeks, from llth March to 20th April, one pound each of 

 oil-cake and cotton-seed meal were added to the i-ation. 



For the whole period of 20 weeks, from 29th December to 18th May, each steer 

 consumed an average of 55*5 lb. per day. 



Second Lot op Steers, Nos. 3 and 4 : 



Lb. 



Corn ensilage 50 



r Straw 5 



Chopped barley 2 



do pease v 2 



Ground oil-cake ... 1 



Cotton-seed meal 1 



61 



For a period of five weeks, from 17th March to 20th April, one pound each of 

 oil-cake and cotton-seed meal were added to the ration. 



For the whole period of 20 weeks, from 29th December to 18th May, each steer 

 consumed an average of 60 lb. per day. 



Third Lot op Steers, Nos. 5 and 6 : 



Lb. 



Corn ensilage 20 



Turnips..... 20 



Hay * 10 



Straw 5 



Chopped barloy 2 



do pease 2 



Ground oil-cake 1 



Cotton-seed meal 1 



61 



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