ANIMAL PEODUCTION, 



569 



and clover hay as a roughage for fattening steers, the best methods of utilizing 

 the roughage produced on the farm, influence of cotton-seed meal as a supple- 

 ment, and a comparison of the relative profits from long and short feeding 

 periods. The feeding tests were undertaken in 1909-10 and 1910-11, using in 

 general lots of 10 steers each. The tests are described in detail and the daily 

 gains per month are given. 



The follow^ing table shows the results of feeding clover hay and corn silage 

 as supplements to shelled corn and cotton-seed meal as a basal ration for steers : 



Steer feeding tests. 



Lot. 



Supplementary feed. 



Clover hay and com silage . 



Clover hay 



Coira silage '. 



Clover hay and com silage . 



...do 



Clover hay 



Com silage 



Clover hay and com silage . 



Year. 



1909-10. 

 ...do... 

 ...do... 

 ...do... 

 1910-11. 

 ...do... 

 ...do... 

 ...do... 



Average 

 daily 

 gain. 



Pounds. 

 2.58 

 2.28 

 2.33 

 3.63 

 2.59 

 2.43 

 2.37 

 2.42 



Cost of 



feed per 



pound of 



gain. 



Cents. 

 9.76 

 10.98 

 9.42 

 9.56 

 8.82 

 9.71 

 8.49 

 8.71 



Initial 

 value per 

 pound. 



Cents. 

 4.65 

 4.65 

 4.65 

 4.65 

 5.00 

 5.00 

 5.00 

 5.00 



Selling 

 value per 

 pound. 



Cents. 

 7.25 

 7.30 

 7.20 

 7.60 

 5.95 

 5.85 

 5.75 

 5.85 



Profit or 

 loss per 



steer 



(without 



pork). 



Dollars. 

 -1-13.02 

 -MO. 12 

 -fl4.64 

 +18.09 



- 0.50 



- 4.57 



- 1.34 



- 0.86 



In the spring of 1910 the market price of all classes of meat animals was 

 abnormally high, while in the spring of 1911 the market was very unsatisfac- 

 tory. On including the amount of pork produced, the balance sheet for 1910-11 

 test shows a profit for each lot. Labor and interest on investment wer« not 

 taken into consideration in estimating the cost of gain. 



In a study of different proportions of cotton-seed meal on a basal ration of 

 shelled corn, clover hay, and corn silage, 2.5 lbs. of cotton-seed meal per day 

 per 1,000 lbs. live weight was found to be more profitable than only half as 

 much cotton-seed meal. This was due quite largely to a more rapid gain, as 

 the cost of making gains was not greatly affected. With corn above 40 cts. 

 per bushel the cost of gain was less where the larger amount of cotton-seed 

 meal was fed. but the reverse was true when corn cost less than 40 cts. 



In a similar test but with the silage omitted the rate of gain and the feed 

 required to make a pound of gain was very little affected. The cost of gains 

 was greatly increased by the use of the larger amount of the concentrate, but a 

 better finish was produced. The profit per steer was less in 1909-10 on the 

 larger amount, but in 1910-11 the profits were in favor of it, due to the changed 

 market conditions. 



The short-fed cattle in the trials of 1909-10 made more rapid gains than the 

 long-fed. Corn silage and clover hay proved eflficient for carrying the heavy 

 flesh feeders for the first part of the feeding period. The cattle in the trial of 

 1910-11, carried on clover hay and corn silage and then short fed, made less 

 gain and returned a shorter profit than the long fed. One lot of 15 short-fed 

 cattle in 1909-11 was marketed and returned a profit, including pork, of more 

 than $28 per steer, while the cattle used in the second trial and marketed 120 

 days later returned a profit of less than $10 per head, notwithstanding the fact 

 that the latter made more rapid and cheaper gains than have ever been made 

 by any other lot of steers fed experimentally at the station. This was due in 

 part to the condition of cattle when started on feed in the second trial, but 

 more largely to the influence of market conditions. 



