384 ' Bulletin 91 



gain made by the animals was one of the prominent factors affecting 

 the cost of making 100 pounds increase in weight. Another factor 

 was the combination of the feed. Thus alfalfa hay when fed alone 

 was too bulky to be suitable for making rapid gains. On the other 

 hand, when this feed was supplemented with silage the cheapest gains 

 were secured. It is interesting to note that the lots making the 

 cheapest gains were fed on alfalfa hay and silage, and alfalfa hay, 

 silage, and cottonseed meal. 



MARGIN IN CATTLE FEEDING 

 The margin, which is the difference between the cost price of 

 feeders and the selling price of the finished animal, often determines 

 whether or not a profit is made in feeding cattle. As a rule, the 

 longer cattle are fed the wider must be the margin. These cattle were 

 fed only 77 days, and it was necessary to have a margin of from 72 

 cents to $2.10 in order to pay for the feed and other expenses in feed- 

 ing the animals. The necessary margin for the different lots varied 

 closely according to the cost of producing gains in live weight. Lots 

 II, IV, and III were distinctly the lowest, while Lots I, V, and VI 

 required $1.98, $1.88, and $2.10 respectively. Lot VI required the 

 largest margin of all the lots due to the highest cost of feed and the 

 greatest finish made by the animals. In a measure this wide margin 

 was justified, for the animals were worth more than those of any 

 other lot at the close of the test. In spite of the fact that the cost of 

 feed amounted to less in Lot I than in Lots IV, V, and VI, it was 

 necessary to secure a margin of $1.98, or more than tAvice as much as 

 in Lot II, in order to avoid loss. When prices of feeds are as high as 

 during this test, it is necessary to receive a margin of at least $2.00 

 per 100 pounds to break even. 



LENGTH OF TIME REQUIRED TO FINISH CATTLE 



"The shorter the feeding period the lower the cost of making 

 gains and the greater the profit," is the rule often followed by stock- 

 men. All the steers in Lots IV and VI were considered finished for 

 market at the end of 77 days. During this time Lot IV had made a 

 gain of 197 pounds and Lot VI, 192 pounds per head. From these 

 data it was calculated that steers gaining 2.53 pounds daily would 

 be finished for market when they had gained 194.5 pounds. There 

 will be variations from this weight due to individuality and a tendency 

 for the cattle to grow rather than to fatten. Calculated according 

 to this basis. Lot IV required 76 days. Lot VI 78 days, Lot V 79 days, 



