REPORT OF TEE DIRECTOR 99 



SESSIONAL PAPER No. 16 



the twelve steers fed inside amounted to 140,400 pounds. Experiments which have 

 been conducted at the Lacombe Station with the view of ascertaining the value of 

 barnyard manure, show that it is well worth $1 per ton, applied. The cost of apply- 

 ing manure from the yards to the fields is less than twenty-five cents per ton. It is 

 therefore fair to credit the cattle with the manure produced by them at seventy-five 

 cents per ton in the yard. Those who are not in a position to realize on the ferti- 

 lizer value of manure, would necessarily charge labour against cattle tfhey have under- 

 taken to feed, at current wages. 



The three groups were fed on exactly the same feeds, but were given different 

 accommodation. Group No. 1 was fed in the barn in box stalls, which were kept 

 well bedded and cleaned at regular intervals. They were not let out at all except 

 once each month for the purpose of being weighed. They had water twice a day, 

 though it was before them practically throughout the day. They were fed straw in 

 their mangers as well as green feed and hay during the last three weeks of the feed- 

 ing period, as were also the other two groups. 



Group No. 2 was fed in the corral, having but a very limited run, being confined 

 near the buildings. These steers had water before them at all times and were fed 

 their roughage in the feeding racks about the corral. They got their straw at the 

 straw stack. The water in the tank was kept free from ice by the use of a tank 

 heater. 



Group No. 3 was fed in the bluff toward the western boundary of the farm; they 

 were at liberty to run free practically over a half section of land with access to the 

 straw stacks and were fed green feed on the ground. They watered at a small lake, 

 through the ice. 



The grain mixture used for the steers this year consisted of wheat, oats and 

 "barley mixed in the proportion of one-fifth wheat, two-fifths oats and two-fifths barley, 

 finely ground. The chop was charged at one cent per pound, the green feed at $10 

 per ton, hay at $10 per ton, salt at cost, and the straw consumed per head has been 

 estimated at one ton per steer, and charged at $2 per ton. 



Group 1 required 261 hours 30 minutes labour to attend to them for 109 days; 

 group number 2, 64 hours 15 minutes labour; and group number 3, 58 hours labour 

 to attend to them for the same lengths of time. 



No charge has been made against the group of cattle fed in the barns for shelter. 

 The experiment considered only the economy of gain in each case. The charge for 

 shelter, if made, would be about $4 per head. 



Group number 1 made an average of 1-53 pounds daily gain, consumed 1,073 

 pounds of hay and green feed, 1,019 pounds of chop, and (estimated) 1 ton of straw. 

 The feed cost: $5.39 for the hay and green feed, $10.19 for chop, and $2 per head for 

 straw. The average profit per head on this group was $10.95. 



Group number 2 made an average daily gain of 1-79 pounds; consumed 1,122 

 pounds of hay and green feed, 1,032 pounds of chop, and (estimated) 1 ton of straw. 

 The feed cost $5.61 for hay and green feed, $10.32 for chop, and $2 per head for straw. 

 The average profit per head on this group, after paying the above costs of feed, wa3 

 $14.05. 



Group number 3 made an average daily gain of 1-34 poundjs; consumed 994 

 pounds of hay and green feed, 949 pounds of chop, and (estimated) 1 ton of straw. 

 The average profit per head on this group was $10.15. 



Uniformly satisfactory profits on the feeding of steers have now been made for 

 years in succession. By feeding the grain to cattle, we have secured a market for 

 grain as beef, at a much higher price than could have been secured for number one 

 grades of grain sold through the elevator. 



The grip of necessity is forcing in upon the mind of the grain grower a vivid 

 realization of the need of directing his energies along more varied lines, and of keep- 

 ing live stock to insure a satisfactory outlet for either high or low-grade grain. 



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