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EXPERIMENTAL FARMS 



5 GEORGE v., A. 1915 



EXPERIMENTAL STATION, LACOMBE, ALTA. 

 KEPOET OF THE SUPERINTENDENT, G. H. HUTTON, E.S.A. 



BEEF CATTLE. 



The herd of pure-bred Aberdeen Angus cattle now number twenty-four, of 

 which fifteen are females over 1 year old, and all but two of which are of breeding age. 

 Two pure-bred Aberdeen Angus cattle aborted during the year, but the loss is 

 believed not to have been due to contagdous a>borfrion, as after some months there 

 has been no indication of the recurrence of the trouble. 



A number of very fine calves have been reared during the year. 



Four steer calves from Shorthorn sires have been hand-raised this season. 

 The following table shows weights attained and cost of food to March 31, 1914: — 



The dams of these four calves produced 24,881-6 pounds of milk during the lacta- 

 tion period following freshening at the birth of these calves, which, if sold at market 

 price for butter production, would leave a fair profit. The cows were not kept 

 simply for the production of the calves, but were of considerable value as dairy cows, 

 and leave a profit after covering the cost of feed and depreciation. 



Eight calves were raised on the cows and weighed less at the same age, though 

 these were not so favourably housed. They ran out through the winter, being fed hay, 

 green feed and chop. The feed cost per head figuring the charges up to 6 months old 

 is as follows: — 



Interest on an investment of $0 $7 20 



Maintenance of dam during winter, 6 months 9 00 



Maintenance of dam during summer, 6 months 6 00 



Deprecation in value of dam 10 00 



Roughage per head for calf for first four months of winter at $10. . 4 95 

 Chop per head for calf for first four months of winter at 1 cent per 



pound • 4 95 



Total cost per head to rear calves to approximately 1 year old.... $42 10 



Average weight per head lb. 622 



Cost per 100 pounds gain $ 6 76 



It should be remembered that the first summer's gains on pasture will doubtless 

 reduce cost of production more rapidly on the group raised on the cows and wintered 

 outside than on those raised by hand and wintered inside. 



Fourteen grade cattle are being used in the experimental work in the beef cattle 

 division of the live stock work at this Station. 



