174 Missouri Agricultural Report. 



at $30 to $35 per ton or cotton seed meal at $25 to $30, to feed his steers. 

 I have now hnrriedly considered tliis snbject, and if T can answer 

 any question pertaining to it I will gladly do so. 



DISCUSSION. 



Q. What do yon think abont millet hay in connection with corn? 



A. It is a very ])oor feed for the prodnctiori of beef, and 1 wonld 

 advise feeding some concentrate in connection with millet. 



Q. Have yon tried molasses with alfalfa hay? 



A. I have never fed any molasses. We have fed some sngar in 

 connection with corn to finish cattle. 



There is one thing I think feeders will have to take into considera- 

 tion in the next few years, and that is ensilage in connection with eco- 

 nomical beef production. Our gains are costing us too much, and unless 

 we can cheapen our gain by some mode of feeding, the question of profit 

 in the future is one that will greatly concern us, and while I have had no 

 experience with the silo I have talked witli members of the Indiana Cattle 

 Feeders' Association and they say that where ensilage has been used in 

 connection with corn for l)eef production it has given very satisfactory 

 results and has cheapened cost of gain. I believe the silo will come 

 into quite general use among feeders. The manufacturers of silos are 

 putting out a good deal of literature, and, of course, you must make al- 

 lowance for the claims they are making in their circulars, yet there is a 

 good deal of truth in the assertions they are making. One word with 

 regard to patent stock foods now on the market — they have some merit 

 but are not worth the money they cost you. If you want to invest your 

 money in some kind of feed, buy flax seed or cotton seed products. 



Q. What is your plan for salting cattle? 



A. I have salt at all times before my cattle. 



Q. How do yoil like snapped corn ? 



A. It is the best thing to start a bunch of cattle on. For tlie first 

 30 days there is nothing better. At the beginning of our feeding period 

 we want to get as much roughness in our cattle as possilile, and there is 

 nothing better for that period than snapped corn. It is a good feed 

 throughout the feeding period if the feeder is short of ronghness. 



Q. How is prairie hay in connection with ear corn? 



A. Not very good, and there should be some concentrated food fed 

 in connection with prairie hay and ear corn. 



Q. Do you advise breaking corn or feeding it whole? 



A. Breaking it, as a rule. It depends on how many hogs follow 



