farmers' institutes. 267 



Taking the results of the experiments during five years on 

 winter feeding, which are, in point of feed used, age of cattle, and 

 other conditions, fairly comparable to the summer feeding we learn 

 that the average daily consumption of roughness in winter feeding 

 was 3.15 pounds per steer. Then at $5.00 per ton it cost 6r cents 

 monthly per steer for roughness ; 73 cents at $6.00 per ton ; and 88 

 cents at S7.00 per ton. 



These cattle weighed about i.ooo pounds when placed on experi- 

 ment ; and around Columbia pasture may be had at from 60 cents to 

 $1.00 per month for such cattle on full feed. Hence it is fair to say 

 that the cost of roughness will about balance the cost of pastifre, 

 thus bringing the problem down to a comparison of the number of 

 pounds of grain required to make a pound of beef under the two 

 systems of feeding and the relative amounts of labor involved. 



It was found that ten pounds of grain made a pound of beef in 

 winter (as an average gain of all the experiments) and that a bushel 

 of corn produced 5.6 pounds of beef. In summer on grass 7.19 pounds 

 of corn made a pound of gain, or a gain of j."] pounds per bushel of 

 corn ; a difference of a little more than 28 per cent in favor of sum- 

 mer feeding. It was found also that the average daily gain in winter 

 was 2.13 pounds per steer, while in summer it was 2.56 pounds — a 

 difference of 0.43 pound in favor of summer feeding. 



Besides obtaining the better gains in summer feeding the labor 

 is much less than in winter since the handling of roughness is elimi- 

 nated, and in most cases the catUe are fed only once a day — either 

 early in the morning or preferably in the evening after sunset. 



From the experience of a great number of veteran feeders, and 

 from the results of the station experiments, it is shown without doubt 

 that the spring and fall seasons are very much better times for 

 securing good gains at small expense than winter with its sudden 

 changes and extreme cold or midsummer with its heat and flies. But 

 unfortunately these seasons are not long enough to allow a ste-er 

 to be finished properly without either beginning in winter or feeding 

 through summer heat. The reports received from the leading fee.lers 

 show that they try to overcome this difficulty to some extent by 

 conducting their feeding so that they are able to finish their cattle in 

 spring or fall instead of winter or midsummer. 



Cattle feeding is, as it is generally conducted, one of the sources 

 of greatest loss on the farm ; while if it is properly conducted be- 

 comes one of the most profitable branches of agricultural industries. 

 Indeed it is deserving of close study and careful practice. 



