450 TniRTv-i-iRST Anxl'al Rnroiri' 



INVESTIGATIOX 



The investigations in animal hnsbandry (hiring- the past year 

 have been as follows : 



1. Fattening range steers for market. 



2. Fleshing thin cows. 



3. Use of garbage for hogs. 



4. Study of two methods for maintaining sows. 



5. The toxic properties of rayless goldenrod. (In cooperation 

 with the Botany Department. See report of Botany De- 

 partment.) 



6. Two methods of raising Hereford heifers. 



FATTENING RANGE STEERS FOR MARKET 



On the Salt River Valley Experiment Farm at j\Iesa, a feeding- 

 experiment with steers was conducted. The 36 steers were divided 

 into six separate lots and fed six different rations over a period of 

 77 davs. The experiment is reported in detail in Bulletin 91. The 

 main points in this test are summarized as follows : 



Alfalfa Hay Versus Alfalfa Hay and Silage: The addition ot 

 silage to a ration of alfalfa hay made the steers gain more rapidly 

 at less cost and with greater profit. Alfalfa hay alone at the 

 present high prices is neither a balanced ration nor a cheap feed 

 for cattle, but silage makes a very good supplement to alfalfa hay. 



Silage and Alialfa Hay Compared zvith Silage and Cottonseed 

 Meal; also Silage, Alfalfa Hay, and Cottonseed Meal: The results of 

 this test indicated that the cheapest gains were made with silage 

 and alfalfa hay, but the largest gains were made with silage, alfalia 

 hay, and cottonseed meal. Silage and cottonseed meal at the price? 

 charged did not give good results, for the steers in this lot gained 

 slowly and at a high cost. From a standpoint of rate of gains and 

 cost of production, silage and cottonseed meal made a better ration 

 than alfalfa hay alone. 



Silage. Cottonseed Meal, and Alfafa Hay Versus Silage, Cotton- 

 seed Meal, and Ground Milo: Although the steers receiving silage, 

 cottonseed meal, and g-round milo maize finished earlier and wee 

 fatter and would dress out more as well as sell for more money, 

 yet from a standpoint of uniformity of gains, staying on feed, total 

 gains, and cost of gains, as well as profit making ability, the steers 

 receiving alfalfa instead of ground milo maize did best. 



Silage, Cottonseed Meal, and Milo Versus Silage, Cottonseed 

 Meal, Milo, and Alfalfa Hay: Again it was noted that the addiiioi: 

 of alfalfa hay to a ration seems to have a beneficial effect. The 



