(572 



EXPERIMENT STATION RECORD. 



Fattening Minnesota steers (pp. 469-485). — In order to study the rela- 

 tive value of light, moderate, and heavy feeding- and the relative 

 merits of steers of different grade a test was made with 3 lots, each 

 containing a Shorthorn, a Hereford, and an Aberdeen Poll steer. They 

 were about 2 years old and were from cows of a common mixed breed 

 and a pure-bred sire. They were all purchased in Minnesota. The net 

 cost of the Aberdeen Poll steers was $3.35 per 100 lbs. ; the Short- 

 horns §3.07, and of the Herefords$3.70. The test began January 0,1890, 

 and covered 150 days. At the beginning of the test lot 1 was fed per 

 head daily 5 lbs. of meal composed of equal parts of bran, oats, barley, 

 and corn; lot 2, 7 lbs., and lot 3. 9 lbs. of the same mixture. This was 

 increased 1 lb. per head every 4 weeks. February 10 the animals were 

 given a pound of linseed cake per head daily in addition. On March 10 

 the amount was doubled and the grain ration was changed to bran, bar- 

 ley, and corn 1:1:2. The maximum amounts of meal fed were 10, 12, 

 and 14 lbs. in the 3 lots, respectively. The steers were fed daily 25 lbs. 

 of corn silage per head in addition to the grain and all the native hay 

 they would eat up clean. They were fed in stalls and were given water 

 twice a day, with salt 2 or 3 times a week. The Herefords were dehorned 

 at the beginning of the test. This interfered with their feeding for 

 about 14 days. The financial statement is based on bran at $0.50, oil 

 cake $14 per ton, native hay at $3, and corn silage at $1 per ton, 

 and oats at 14 cts., barley 10 cts., and corn IS cts. per bushel. At the 

 close of the test the steers were sold in St. Paul for $4.10 per 100 lbs., 

 a shrinkage of 4 per cent being allowed. 



The results of the test are shown in the following table: 



Summary of results of steer feeding. 



Fattening range steers (pp. 486-504). — A test similar to the preceding 

 was made with 9 range steers, divided into 3 lots of 3 each. They were 

 purchased in Montana and were worth at the beginning of the test 

 $3.13 per 100 lbs. In some of the steers Hereford and Polled Aberdeen 

 blood predominated, in others Shorthorn blood. They were a fair type 

 of beef steers. They had been suckled by their dams in winter and 

 when necessary given some hay. Otherwise they fed on the range. 

 The test began December 7, 1890, and closed April 17, 1897. All the 

 lots were fed bran, barley, corn, and linseed cake 3:3:3:1, with hay and 

 silage in addition, lot 1 being fed 7 lbs. of grain per head daily, lot 2 9 

 lbs., and lot 3 11 lbs. at the beginning of the test. These amounts 



