69 



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 528 lb. per day. 



For the purpose of making a comparison between the actual cost of feeding 

 steers on the three different rations, a market value was estimuted for the component 

 fodders in each. The hay was valued at $8 per ton ; roots (turnips or mangels) at 

 $4 per ton ; straw at $4 per ton ; pease and barley at $20 per ton ;^and cotton-seed meal 

 and oil-cake at $30 per ton. The corn ensilage cost $1.40 per ton, as per statement 

 in Bulletin No. 12, issued by Prof. Saunders in June, 1891. It will be observed that 

 the corn ensilage was placed at cost, and the other fodders at an estimated market 

 price; but it will not be considered by farmers, in many districts in Canada, that 

 they can produce hay at a cost below $8 per ton, or roots below $4 per ton. 



The following Table shows (1) the increase in weight of the steers in 20 weeks ; 

 (2) the quantity of feed consumed per day, and (3) the cost per head per day for 

 feed : — 



Table II. 



First lot.. {g°;l; 



^^'^ i°* Ino: 6.- 



Ration. 



Hay, roots and meal 

 do do 



Second lot|^°- f Corn ensilage and meal. 



(_iNo. 4 do do 



Hay, roots, corn ensilage and meal, 

 do do do . . 



Increase 

 in 



Weight. 



Lb. 



188 

 179 



221 

 212 



128 

 182 



Average 

 feed con- 

 sumed per 

 day. 



Lb. 



55-5 



60- 



52-8 



Average 



cost of feed 



per day. 



Cents. 

 19-23 



11-90 



15-58 



All the steers were allowed as much feed ab they could eat up clean ; and the 

 quantity was varied from time to time, as they would eat more or less. 



It may be mentioned, in exjilanation of the small increase in weight of steer No. 

 5, that he did not thrive well, part of the time. That could not be accounted for 

 satisfactorily. He seemed to be healthy, but, as everyone who has fed cattle knows, 

 an animal "will go off his feed" occasionally and will not thrive. 



It will be observed that the steers fed on the corn ensilage and meal ration 

 gained an average of 33 lb. each more than those on the ration of hay, roots and 

 meal, during the 20 weeks. 



During the last month of the testing period steers No. 3 and 4, on corn ensilage 

 and meal, gained in weight much faster than the othei-s ; and when the experiment 

 was finished they were in more attractive condition for handling and selling. 



