80 ANNUAL REPORTS OF DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 



BEEF-CATTLE INVESTIGATIONS. 

 BEEF PKODUCTION. 



Tlie beef-cnttle experimental work was continued in ^Mississippi, 

 North Carolina, and West Virginia, in cooperation with the State 

 agricultnral colleges, and on the Animal Hnsbandry farm at Belts- 

 ville, Md. In the steer-fattening experiments rations with only a 

 small amonnt of concentrates were nsed. Nitrogenous supplements 

 were used liberally, but the amount of grain was reduced to a mini- 

 nmm. Limited grain rations were used with satisfactory results, 

 which indicates tlnit beef can be produced economically largely on 

 roughage when supplemented with a protein-rich feed. 



On the farm at Beltsville, Md., four lots of 2-Year-old steers were 

 fed to compare cottonseed meal and soaked velvet beans when used 

 with and without the addition of shelled corn. The addition of corn 

 to a ration composed of corn silage, cottonseed meal, and wheat straw 

 did not pay. The addition of corn to the ration of velvet beans and 

 corn silage was profitable. The lot receiving corn silage and soaked 

 velvet beans with a small quantity of cottonseed meal as an appetizer 

 produced the most economical gains and showed the greatest profit, 

 even though the daily gains and the selling price of the cattle were 

 lower than those of any of the other lots. 



In the baby-beef production experiments at Lewisburg, W. Va., 

 22 calves, after being weaned in the fall of 1918, were started on feed 

 December 12 and received a ration of corn silage, clover hay, shelled 

 corn, ground oats, Avheat bran, and cottonseed meal. They were 

 turned out to grass April 25 and were fed supplemental feeds on 

 pasture in the summer, with the intention of marketing them as 

 finished baby beeves in the fall or early winter of 1919. 



At Canton, Miss., two lots of calves averaging 392 pounds were 

 fed for 112 days to determine which is the better ration, corn silage 

 and cottonseed meal or corn silage and cottonseed meal supplemented 

 with chopped corn. The addition of chopped corn did not greatly 

 increase the daily gains but greatly increased the cost of gain. 



Wintering steers. — At Springdale, N. C, and Lewisburg, W. Va., 

 several lots of steers were wintered to determine the relative merits 

 of wintering on different rations and to prepare for grazing experi- 

 ments the following summer. 



At Springdale five lots of steers received the following rations: 

 (1) Mixed hay, (2) corn silage, (3) corn silage and corn stover, (4) 

 winter pasture with additional feed during the few stormy daj's, (5) 

 corn stover, mixed hay. wheat straw, and ear corn. The results 

 shoAved that so far as condition of the cattle Avas concerned there Avas 

 practically no difference in the fiA'e lots, the principal difference being 

 in the cost of the rations. 



At Lewisburg three lots of steer calves were wintered 134 days on 

 the folloAving rations: (1) Corn silage, hay, and cottonseed meal, (2) 

 silage and clover hay, (3) mixed hay and a grain mixture consisting 

 of parts by weight, shelled corn 3, wheat bran 1, oil meal 1. At the 

 end of the Avinter the grain-fed calves Avere in somcAvhat better con- 

 dition, Avhile the calves in lot 1 were also in good condition. The 

 steers in lot 3 were in the best condition, but the ration was extremely 

 expensive. The first ration proved to be the most satisfactory. 



