REPORT OF MR. R. ROBERTSON 341 



SESSIONAL PAPER No. 16 



EXPERIMENTS WITH STEERS. 



TIED IN STALLS VS. FED IN LOOSE BOX. 



This experiment was again carried on with the view of testing the advisability 

 of feeding in loose boxes, as contrasted with similar steers fed tied in stalls. 



Sixteen three-year-old steers were used for this test in two lots of eight each, of 

 as nearly as pos:5ible equal form, fatness and weight (short-horn grades). 



All weights were taken after a fast of fourteen hours, that is, at 9 a.m., without 

 feed. 



All were dehorned previous to beginning of test, and by careful weighing, both 

 before and after dehorning, it was found that an average loss of 25 pounds per steer 

 was sustained, requiring from 10 days to two weelvs to regain. 



All lots were fed alike, as nearly as possible, from start to finish of test, and kept 

 in the stable all the time, except on occasional fine days, when they were let out for 

 a time, averaging not more than once a week. The feeds were charged at the follow- 

 ing prices : Hay, $8 per ton; roots, $2 per ton; ensilage, $2 per ton; mixed meals 

 averaged $24 per ton; as per proportion fed. 



The result of this experiment again shows slightly more gain for those fed in 

 loose box stalls, than for those tied up, with a decided advantage as to the labour 

 required, while the amount of straw required for loose steers is at least 50 per cent 

 more than for those tied up. 



Following are the results obtained : — 



Record of steers, fed from November 16, 1903, to April 30, 1904. 



LOT L— DEUORNED, FED IN LOOSE BOX. 



LOT II.— DEHORNED, TIED IN STALLS. 



