I 



266 MISSOURI AGRICULTURAL REPORT. 



It must be remembered, however, that the cattle in this ex- 

 periment were on full feed which produced a great deal of animal 

 heat. This same experiment was carried on with yearling steers ; 

 during one winter, feeding hay only, and the other three winters 

 feeding a small amount of corn and all the timothy hay they would 

 eat; and the results were greatly in favor of the barn. 



SUMMER AXD WINTER FEEDING. 



Since the practice of the most experienced feeders tends towards 

 summer feeding, the Missouri Station decided to inciuire into the mat- 

 ter; and on sending an inquiry to a large number of the leading 

 feeders of Missouri and some neighboring states found that less than 

 ten per cent of the practical feeders were in favor of winter feeding, 

 while fifty-one per cent were in favor of simimer feeding, and forty 

 per cent favored either spring and summer, summer and fall, or 

 spring and fall. To learn more of the practice of these men an- 

 other inquiry was made asking if winter feeding had been found 

 profitable and if they still practiced it. Only 372 answered "Yes," 

 while 441 answered "No," showing that 54 per cent had discontinued 

 winter feeding. 



Then in order to get the relative gains of cattle on full feed in 

 summer and winter the station sent out this question : "What is your 

 average daily gain per steer on full feed?" In answer to this ques- 

 tion the following was received from three states : 



IN WINTER. 



Missouri, average daily gain I 2.11 pounds. 



Iowa, average daily gain I 2 . .32 " 



Illinois, average daily gain I 2.18 " 



Average I 2 . 20 pounds. 



IN SUMMER. 



Missouri, average daily gain | 2 . 00 pounds. 



Iowa, average daily gain | 2 . 80 " 



Illinois, average daily gain | 2 . 84 " 



Average | 1.Hr> pounds. 



This shows a gain of 0.65 pound per day per steer in favor of 

 summer feeding. 



The results of experiments carried on at the Missouri Station 

 with regard to summer and winter feeding are of interest here. 



