104 



of oottonseed meal with velvet beans for fattening 

 steers. 



The results of the feeding test for the winter of 1916- 

 17 are not directly comparable to the ones given in Bul- 

 letin No. 192, as the steers used the two winters were 

 somewhat different in quality and the beans were pre- 

 pared in a different way. 



Object of the Experiment 



This experiment was planned with a view of determ- 

 ining the relative feeding value of velvet beans in 

 the pod and cottonseed meal as the concentrate part 

 of a ration for fattening steers. 



rhe steers were divided into two lots of fifteen each, 

 and were given the following feeds: 



LOT 1. Velvet beans in pods. Corn silage. 



LOT 2. Cottonseed meal. Corn silage. 



The Cattle 



The steers used in this experiment were grades, 

 showing either Angus, Hereford, or Shorthorn blood. 

 About one-half of the steers were raised on the farm 

 where the experiment was conducted; and the remain- 

 der were purchased in Texas in June, shipped to Allcn- 

 ville, and grazed during the summer. They then varied 

 from one to two years in age. The average weight of 

 each animal at the beginning of the test was approxi- 

 mately 773 pound's. 



General Plan of the Work 



The steers were fed under average farm conditions. 

 The feeding test was conducted on the farm of Judge 

 B. M. Allen, at AUcnville, Alabama. Judge Allen furn- 

 ished the cattle and the feeds, and the experiment was 

 planned and carried on under the supervision of the 

 authors of this Bulletin. Mr. Ernest Gibbcns had per- 

 sonal charge of the cattle throughout the experiment. 



The feed lots were located in a cedar grove. The 

 cedar trees gave all the protection the steers had dur- 

 ing the experiment. The lots had a southern exposure 

 and v/ere well drained. The manure was hauled out 

 of the lots every few days. No bedding was used, but 

 the lots were dry enough so the steers could lie down 

 comfortably. Pure water from a deep well was kept 

 before the steers at all times. Rock salt was kept in 

 the feed troughs continually. 



The steers were fed twice each day. The concen- 

 trates and roughage were mixed thoroughly by hand 



