158 AGRICULTURAL COLLEGE BULLETINS. 



No. 24.— DEPARTMENT OF PR ACTIO AL AGRICULTURE. 



FEEDING STEERS OF DIFFERENT BREEDS. 



For some years it has seemed to the writer that the feeding of good speci- 

 mens of the diilerent breeds of cattle from calfhood to maturity, under the 

 same conditions;, except amount of food, would be a desirable experiment. 



A careful record of all food consumed, the comparative data as to kind and 

 quality of food, growth, time of maturing, gain for food consumed, etc., 

 would be of permanent value. 



Breeders may make fair or extravagant claims for their favorites; but too 

 often the claim has little foundation, more than '' I guess so." Actual, posi- 

 tive knowledge of breeds is what we want. 



Not that one test of this sort would demonstrate beyond question the feed- 

 ing qualities of the different breeds; but it would be a first step in the right 

 direction and would prove an instructive object lesson of the habits and 

 capacities of growth of the different animals during the continuance of the 

 trial. 



This would be especially true at our own college, where great stress is laid 

 on the study of the breeds aad the best specimens are procured as aids in 

 illustrating the subject. 



While tests have been made by feeding animals of different breeds for a 

 brief period, together — the fact that they have been cared for in different 

 ways for the first year or two, before coming together under like conditions, 

 has greatly lessened the accuracy of any practical results obtained. 



I am not aware of any similar test ever having been made, viz.: the feeding 

 of representative specimens of six pure breeds, brought together at weaning- 

 time and cared for under the same conditions; with careful record of the 

 breeding and history of each, the food consumed, its weight and make-up, 

 and such other items as have seemed of value. 



It has seemed to me that two animals of each breed would be better than a 

 larger number for a test of this sort. They should have comfortable quarters, 

 conveniences for stabling, pasture, water, storage of feed, weighing facilities, 

 and the most prompt and regular attendance. The work ought to be done 

 by one and the same man. With a larger number this would be more 

 difficult. 



It is true that a larger number might give more opportunity to eliminate 

 some elements of uncertainty ; but it is a question whether they would not 

 introduce more, and confuse results rather than make them more accurate. 



Three years ago I called the attention of the Board of Agriculture to the 

 importance of this subject. It met with their approval, but there were no 

 funds with which to procure the animals. Two years ago the Legislature 

 made an appropriation for this special purpose. It was hoped that the breed- 

 ers of the State, many of whom had expressed themselves in favor of the 

 trial, would furnish such specimens of the breeds as they thought would 

 best uphold the claims of their favorites. 



At our spring sale in March, 1885, Mr. H. H. Hinds, President of the 

 Michigan Shorthorn Breeders' Association, who has always manifested a cor- 

 dial interest in all our work, presented this matter to the State Board of 

 Agriculture, and thought that the different Breeders' Associations would bfr 



