ANIMAL PRODUCTION. 



269 



The average analyses of the main feeds used are shown in the followhig table: 

 Chemical composition of various feeding stuffs. 



" Peat nitrogeu. 



Soya bean and products (Spec. Cons. Rpts. [U. S.], J/O (1909), pp. 35). — 

 This report contains statistical information gleaned from the United States 

 consuls from different parts of the world concerning the production and use of 

 the soy bean, with special reference to soy bean products which are coming into 

 competition with the products of cotton seed. The methods of preparing soy 

 beau oil and cake are described. Analyses of the cake are given and tests of 

 its value for feeding cattle are reported. 



Notices of judg'ment (U. 8. Dept. Agr., Notices of Judgment 102, pp. 1, 2; 

 lO'f-105, pp. 'i-O ; 109, pp. 15, 16). — These notices relate to the misbranding of 

 distiller's dried grains and the adulteration and misbranding of stock feeds, 

 cereals, and cotton-seed hulls. 



Winter steer feeding', 1908—9, J. II. Skinner and W. A. Cochel (Indiana 

 Sta. Bui. 136, pp. 3-JiS). — This bulletin reports results in steer feeding in con- 

 tinuation of exi)eriments previously reported (E. S. R., 20, pp. 969, 971), and 

 which were conducted under conditions which confront the practical stock 

 feeder. The animals used were grade Angus. In all cases a profit was secured 

 without taking into account the inci'eased fertility which resulted from the large 

 accumulation of manure in the feed lots. Cotton-seed meal was estimated at 

 $28, clover at $8, and corn silage at $2.50 per ton, and corn at its market value 

 at the time it was fed, which varied from 52 to 67 cts. per bushel. 



In the first experiment 20 calves, 10 yearling steers, and 10 two-year-old 

 steers were fed 6 months to study the influence of age on profit in fattening. 

 The ration consisted of shelled corn, cotton-seed meal, and clover hay. The 

 consumption of hay decreased according to the age of the cattle while the con- 

 sumption of grain increased. The amount of corn consumed by both calves and 

 yearlings shows a consistent increase throughout the entire period, but with the 

 two-year-old cattle the grain consumption increased during the first 4 months, 

 after which there was a gradual decrease in spite of the fact that the hay was 

 decreased at the same time. This indicates that the maximum consumption of 

 grain by two-year-old cattle occurs during the fourth month after the beginning 

 of the feeding period. The yearlings made a slightly more rapid gain than the 

 two-year-olds. The results, shown in the following table, were very similar to 

 those reported previously and show that the older the cattle when started into 

 the feed lot the greater will be the amount of feed required to produce a pound 

 of beef, so that the margin between buying and selling prices of calves need not 

 be so great as on older cattle in order to insure a profit from feeding. 



