270 EXPERIMENT STATION KECOKD. 



Influence of age in futtciiiufi steers (lurin;/ a period of si.r months. 



Tile set'ond experiiueut was a study on the relative value of silage, cottou- 

 seed meal and clover hay as supplcnients to corn in fattening two-year-old 

 steers. Forty steers weighing about J)40 lbs. each, and with an initial value 

 of $4.55 per hundredweight, were divided into lots of 10 each. The greatest 

 consuuiption of corn was in the lot receiving only clover hay as a supplement. 

 If the experiment had closed a month earlier, the amount of feed and dry 

 matter as well as the cost in producing gains would have been less in each 

 case. Other data are given in the following table: 



Results; of feeding supplements to corn with tico-year-old steers during a period 



of siic months. 



In an experiment in short versus long feeding, 25 two-year-old steers of a 

 higher grade than those in the preceding experiment were used. The ration 

 consisted of shelled corn, cotton-seed meal, and clover hay. TTie method of 

 feeding was such that the 15 short-fed cattle received a more concentrated ra- 

 tion than the 10 in the long-fed lot. There was a gradual increase in the 

 amount of corn consumed by the short-fed cattle. The maximnm amount of 

 corn consumed by the long-fed cattle was reached during the fourth month of 

 their feeding period, which lasted ISO days. Other data on this experiment are 

 given in the following table: 



Long versus short feeding periods for two-year-old steers. 



Average 

 initial 

 weight. 



Average 



daily 

 gain per 

 pound. 



Cost of 

 gain per 

 pound. 



Dry mat- 

 ter fed 

 per 

 pound of 

 gain. 



Initial i Value of 



value per cattle in 



cwt. I feed lot. 



Profit 

 per steer. 



Pounds. 



Long-fed (first 120 davs) 966 



Long-fed ( entire 180 days) i 966 



Short-fed (120days 1,140 



Pounds. 

 2.27 

 2.27 

 2.67 



Cents. 

 10. 73 

 11.44 

 11.19 



Pounds. 

 11.60 

 11.52 

 11.16 



84.55 

 4.65 

 4.75 



86.10 

 6.75 

 6.45 



89.65 

 12.79 

 12.54 



Other conclusions of the author are as follows: 



"Two-year-old cattle placed in the feed lot in equal condition and given a full 

 feed attain a higher finish during a six months' feeding than either yearlings or 

 calves. 



