196 Missouri Agricultural Report. 



When balanced rations were fed, the protein being furnished 

 in one experiment by the use of linseed-meal and in the other by 

 alfalfa hay, the corn-stover made a favorable showing with prairie 

 hay, proving to be worth, in the first, $4.23 per ton, and in the 

 second, $5.17 per ton, compared with prairie hay at $6.00 per ton. 

 In the third comparison, without a protein food, the stover re- 

 turned a value of but $2.77, compared with prairie hay at $6.00. 

 This is, perhaps, attributable to the lower protein content of 

 stover. As already stated, not more than 60 per cent of the stover 

 charged to the steers fed in those experiments was consumed, the 

 remainder consisting of refuse butts, which had to be thrown out 

 for bedding. The stover actually consumed would seem to possess 

 a feeding value quite the equal of prairie hay. Inasmuch as corn- 

 stover contains only 60 per cent dry matter, while prairie hay is 

 approximately 90 per cent, it would seem conservative to say also 

 that the dry matter of the entire cornstalk, with ear detached, 

 cut immediately after the corn ripens and properly cured in the 

 shock, is equal to the dry matter of prairie hay. 



THE RELATIVE ECONOMY OF A HEAVY AND LIGHT RATION OF CORN. 



The experiments so far conducted and reported in these pages 

 indicate that beef can be produced most economically in Nebraska 

 by the use of corn, alfalfa and corn-stover. It would seem proper 

 to next determine, if possible, what proportion of corn to such 

 roughness is most economical. Corn has ruled high in price during 

 the past few years, while roughness of all kinds has remained rela- 

 tively low in value until the last year, when hay has been abnor- 

 mally high, because the dry weather which prevailed throughout 

 the country during the early part of the summer caused a shortage 

 in this crop, the effect of which will, no doubt, be but temporary. 

 The cost of hauling and shipping hay and other bulky feed is such 

 as to make it seem probable that the price of roughness on our 

 Nebraska farms, many of them situated some distance from sta- 

 tions, will not advance with corn in the future. Beef cattle in the 

 west are ordinarily fed all the grain they will consume, very com- 

 monly by the use of self-feeders, having before them what rough 

 feed is needed to satisfy the craving for bulk. The latter is often 

 of very inferior quality, perhaps a stack of wheat straw, and a 

 very limited quantity is consumed. That a good quality of rough- 

 ness can be made to take the place of a part of the corn is shown 

 by the following single experiment conducted the past winter : 



