REPORT OF MR. JAMES MURRAY 



291 



SESSIONAL PAPER No. 16 



Test op Feeding Steers. 



Outside. 



No. of steers in lot 



First weight gross 



II average 



Finished weight gross 



II average 



Total gain in 138 days 



Average gain per steer 



Daily gain per steer 



II lot 



Gross cost of feed 



Cost of 100 lbs. gain 



Cost of steers, — 8,848 lbs. at 3gC 



Total cost to produce beef 



Sold, — 14,135 lbs. at 4^0. less 4 per cent 



Profit on lot 



Net profit per steer 



Average buying pi ice per steer 



II selling price per steer 



II increase in value 



II cost of feed per steer 



Amount of meal eaten by lot 



II straw 



M hay 



II millet 



II corn fodder 



8 



8,854 lbs. 



1,10G ,1 



10,G30 M 



1,.328 „ 



1,77(5 II 



234 II 



1« II 



12-8 ,1 



$100 



5 



276 



377 



483 



5ti 



7 



34 56 

 54 21 

 19 05 

 12 59 

 8,892 lbs. 

 8 tons. 



6 M 



1 ton. 



1 M 



76 

 67 

 50 

 26 

 71 

 45 

 05 



5,695 lbs. at 3Jc 



6,950 lbs. at' 4c. less 4%'. '. 



Amount of ensilage and roots 



Inside. 



5 

 5,695 lbs. 



1,139 „ 



6,950 „ 



1,390 M 



1,2.55 ,1 



251 I. 



1-81 M 



905 ,. 



.1 77 95 



6 20 



177 97 



255 92 



283 56 



27 61 



5 52 



35 59 



56 71 



21 12 



15 59 



5,390 lbs. 



5,680 II 



2,S40 M 



25,850 „ 



The comparative net profit as given in this statement takes no account of labour, 

 or interest on investment. When these items are considered, the showing is much 

 more favourable to the outside lot. The labour incident to feeding those outside was 

 very much less than to the stabled lot, as the straw was drawn to them once or twice 

 a week with a sleigh, the grain drawn to the feed-room once a week, and the manure 

 taken away in sleigh-loads direct to the fields twice during the winter. The manure 

 was nearly all saved, as the cattle spent most of their time around the straw pile. 



There is a notable advantage in favour of those fed oiit-side, when the investment 

 for shelter is co^nsideretl. While no sheds were provided this year, and the results do 

 not indicate that they were necessary in such a mild winter where good natural shelter 

 from winds exists, they may be found to be an advantage under different conditions 

 where less natural shelter obtains, or when temperatures are more extreme. 

 Undoubtedly shelter of some kind from cold winds must be provided. Extreme cold 

 was not nearly so discomforting as a more moderate temperature with a high wind. 



Definite conclusions can not be drawn from the results of a single experiment, 

 and the one above outlined is being repeated this year. Twenty steers are being fed 

 outside and twenty inside. Of those inside, sixteen are getting the same treatment 

 as was accorded under the same conditions last year, and four are in a loose pen in 

 the stable, being fed exactly the same as those outside. A scale has been installed in 

 the outside feed lot and the cattle are weighed at intervals to ascertain at what season 

 the greatest gains are made, and what effect extreme temperatures have on the rate 

 of gain. This information should be a guide as to the methods of feeding. 



The mean temperature this winter has been much lower than a year ago, but 

 weather conditions generally have not been unfavourable for work of this kind. 



16—19^ 



