674 EXPERIMENT STATION RECORD. 



Methods of steer feeding, T. I. Mairs (Pennsylvania St a. Bui. 83, pp. 16, 

 figs. J). — Corn stover and corn silage were compared with two lots of 6 steers 

 each, the grain ration in both cases being broken ear com with 2 lbs. of cotton- 

 seed meal per head per day. Mixed hay was also fed to both lots. 



In the 126 days of the test the average gain on corn stover was 214 lbs. per 

 steer and on silage 240 lbs. The total cost of the corn stover ration was $103.73 

 and of the corn silage ration $109.91. "Undoubtedly a part of the superior 

 value of the corn silage was due to the ears which it contained, as it is noted 

 that on this feed the steers ate a smaller amount of grain than those fed corn 

 stover." 



When cotton-seed meal versus Ajax flakes was compared with 2 lots of 12 

 steers each for a period of 70 days the average gain on the 2 rations was 118 

 and 126 lbs., respectively, and the cost of feed per pound of gain was 10.90 cts. 

 with the cotton-seed meal i-ation and 10.94 cts. with the Ajax flakes. The 

 feeds mentioned were supplemented by broken ear corn, shredded corn stover • 

 and mixed hay with an additional amount of cotton-seetl meal for a part of 

 the time, the ration being so arranged that the 2 lots received approximately 

 equal quantities of protein. 



In a test carried on in continuation of earlier work on the relative merits 

 of barn and shed feeding (E. S. R., 16, p. 398), 2 lots of 12 steers each were 

 fed ear corn with corn stover and mixed hay, supplemented during a part 

 of the period by cotton-seed meal. In 70 days the average gain of the lot 

 fed in the barn was 344 lbs. per steer and of the lot fed in the shed 382 lbs., 

 the cost of feed in the two cases beinsr respectively S.r)7 and 8.15 cts. 



As the author points out, the results of this test confirm the conclusions of 

 former years, namely : 



" Shelter has very little effect upon the appetite of the animals except in 

 extreme weather. 



•' In this climate it is seldom that the weather is too cold for steers on full 

 feed out doors provided they are kept in dry quarters and out of strong winds. 



" It is very essential for fattening steers that they be well bedded. 



" It is decidedly advantageous that the yard be macadamized or given an 

 impervious coating of some kind to prevent mud during soft weather. Wet 

 bedding and muddy yards are more injurious than extreme cold. 



•* The amount of feed required per pound of gain is practically the same 

 whi'ther the steers are kept in a warm basement stable or outside." 



Kafir corn and milo maize for fattening- cattle, F. R. Marshall and J. ('. 

 Burns (Texas Sta. BuL '.)!, pp. 20, pgs. ,}). — The authors discuss the -feeding 

 value of Kafir corn and milo maize, which they believe could l)e more extensively 

 used with profit than at present, and report tests in which these materials were 

 compared with other feeds. 



In the first of these tests, which covered 76 days, the basal ration consisted 

 of cotton-seed meal, cotton-seed hulls, and sorghum hay, and four lots of 5 steers 

 each were used. The average daily gains per head on the several rations were 

 Kafir corn 2.59 lbs., milo maize 2.20 lbs., Indian corn 2.10 lbs., and molasses 

 (with corn meal) 1.91 lbs. Taking the cost of feeds into account it is i)ointed 

 out that Kafir corn gave the largest and cheapest gains, while milo maize 

 ranked next, molasses yielding smaller though cheaper gains than Indian corn. 

 " Repetition of this test without another form of roughage might result in a 

 higher rate of gain for Indian than for Kafir corn and milo maize, but for 

 feeding matured cattle a mixed ration similar to that used in tliis experiment 

 we would recommend the purchase of the lowest priced of these three feeds." 



