SUMMARY 



MAIN TEST 36 STEERS FOR 77 DAYS 



ALFALFA HAY ALONE COMPARED WITH ALFALFA HAY AND SILAGE 



1. Steers fed on alfalfa hay gained an average of 1.40 pounds 

 per day ; on alfalfa hay and silage, 2.39 pounds. The addition of silage 

 to the alfalfa hay increased the daily gain at the rate of .99 pounds 

 per steer. 



2. The addition of silage to a ration of alfalfa hay will make 

 steers gain more rapidly in weight, shorten the feeding period, reduce 

 the cost of making gains, increase the market value of the animals, 

 and increase the profits. 



3. Steers averaging 891 pounds and 30 months old will consume 

 about 30 pounds of alfalfa hay daily the first 77 days in the feed lot. 



4. Steers fed on alfalfa hay and silage finished more rapidly than 

 those given alfalfa hay and were worth 50 cents per hundred more 

 at the end of the test. 



5. Each steer fed on alfalfa hay lost $17.27, and those given 

 silage and alfalfa hay made a profit of 35 cents per steer. 



6. The cost of feed was $27.55 per steer for alfalfa hay in Lot I, 

 and these steers gained an average of 107 pounds; while in the other 

 lot the cost of feed was $23.18 per steer, and these steers gained an 

 average of 184 pounds. 



7. All the steers given silage and alfalfa hay gained more than 

 any of the steers fed exlusively on alfalfa hay. 



8. A margin of $1.98 per hundred pounds was necessary in the 

 lot fed hay and only 72 cents per hundred pounds was necessary 

 where the steers were fed silage along with hay. 



9. The cost of producing a hundred pounds gain was $25.63 

 with alfalfa hay and $12.58 with silage and alfalfa hay, or less than 

 half as much in the lot where silage was fed with alfalfa hay. 



10. The addition of 47.14 pounds of silage per head daily de- 

 creased the consumption of alfalfa hay 19.64 pounds. 



11. The steers receiving alfalfa hay and silage consumed less 

 dry matter, total digestible nutrients, and therms per hundred pounds 

 gain. 



12. Alfalfa hay alone is not a balanced ration for fattening two- 

 year-old steers, and the addition of silage to a ration of alfalfa hay 

 was beneficial in every respect. 



