ANIMAL PRODUCTIOK. 567 



A slaughter test showed that with all 3 lots the dressed weight ou an average 

 was uot far from 50 per cent of the live weight. 



Two i)igs following the steers fed the smaller corn ration made an average 

 daily gain of 0.57 lb. per pig, while 2 similar animals following the steers fed 

 the larger amount of corn gained an average of 1 lb. per pig per day. 



As regards the effect of a balanced ration for steers " when cotton-seed 

 hulls were fed with bran and cotton-seed meal, greater gains were made, even 

 tliough the ration was not well balanced, than when shredded fodder was used 

 as roughness, in which case the ration is more nearly balanced. When feeding 

 shredded fodder with cotton-seed meal, better gains were produced when enough 

 corn was added to the ration to make it more properly balanced. ... It should 

 be the aim of the feeder to buy steers in thin condition to secure the largest 

 gains. 



" Individual steers vary in their capacity to make gains, and their gains are 

 by no means uniform throughout the feeding period. The steers that were 

 the best eaters made the greatest and most even gains. Other factors being 

 equal, the steers that have the best beef form, square and blocky, will make 

 the best feeders and dress the highest percentage of salable carcass when 

 slaughtered." 



" The general conclusion from this work is that the profit in feeding steers 

 purchased in other States must be found more in pork and manure produced 

 than in direct cash returns, at the prices now prevailing for feed and for beef 

 on the hoof. It is believed that the greatest hope of profit in beef production 

 lies in raising the proper kind of calves and yearlings for this purpose, and 

 in feeding well-selected native grade steers purchased from 2 to 2.5 cts. per 

 pound." 



Steer feeding under eastern Washington conditions, E. E. Elliott and 

 W. A. LiNKLATER {Wafihiiigton >S7«. Bui. 71), pp. 19, figs. J/). — The authors dis- 

 cuss present conditions of cattle feeding in Washington and the possibilities 

 of increasing this industry. The majority of cattle which are raised are fed on 

 alfalfa, and some statistics of gains which have been obtained by different 

 feeders and related matters are presented which were derived from answers 

 to inquiries sent throughout the State. 



A feeding test covering 11 weeks was made with 3 lots of 4 steers each, to 

 compare barley and sprouted Avheat alone and in combination, fed with wild 

 oat hay. Owing to a misunderstanding the steers were fed at the beginning of 

 the test 8 lbs. of grain per head daily instead of a smaller amount, and this 

 quantity was continued, though, as shown by the droppings, the amount eaten 

 was at first too great. Later the amount was increased to 12 lbs. The average 

 daily gain on barley was 2.23 lbs. and the cost of a pound of gain S.02 cts. 

 Similar values for the wheat ration were 2.37 lbs, and 6.72 cts., and for the 

 wheat and barley ration, 2.39 lbs. and 7.01 cts. The smallest calculated profit, 

 $11.18, was secured with the barley ration and the greatest profit, $10.99, with 

 the mixture of the 2 grains. 



The wheat used in the above test had stood in the shock through a rainy 

 l)eriod and was al)out one-third si)routed, though it was dry and in good con- 

 dition when fed. 



" The . . . results go to show that there is profit in steer feeding even 

 when both feed and cattle have to be bought, and especially that the farmer 

 who produces his own feed can feed it to steers on his farm and secure bet- 

 ter than market i)rices for the feed, besides producing considerable manure 

 which must as time goes on become an important factor in Washington agri- 

 culture. This feeding of croi>s on the farm is especially pertinent in cases 

 where either the roughage or grain is so damaged or poor in quality that they 



