FOODS ANIMAL PRODUCTION. 



515 



The decomposition of fat by molds, H. Ritthausen and Bau- 



MANN {]A(ndi(\ Vers. Stat., 47 {1896), Ko. i-o^jyp.-i'SO, 390). — Two samples 

 of rape-seed cake were analyzed and then kept in unopened glass stop- 

 pered bottles for 2 years, when they were again analyzed. The water 

 had increased from 12.45 and 12. 3L per cent in the original to 21.94 and 

 23.42 per cent in the 2-year-ol(l material. The fat, which was 10.53 and 

 8.50 i)er cent in the original, had diminished to 1.98 and 1.87 per cent, 

 equivalent to a loss of 8L and 78 per cent, respectively. The authors 

 believe the water could not have come from any other source than the 

 decomposed fat. 



Fifteen different species of molds and bacteria were isolated. 



Cattle feeding in Colorado, W. W. Cooke [Colorado Sta. Bui. 34, 

 pp. 3-36). — In an article on cattle feeding in Colorado the author dis- 

 cusses ranging and winter feeding, marketing, cost of ranging cattle, 

 growth and losses, and shipping. 



Experiments in steer feeding, 1894-95 (pp. 15-30). — A feeding experi- 

 ment was made with 18 grade Durham and Polled Angus steers. Six 

 of these were 4 years old and weighed about 1,300 lbs.; 4 were 2 years 

 old and weighed about 1,000 lbs.; and 8 were yearlings, weigliing from 

 660 to 830 lbs. A preliminary test was made lasting from December 

 19 to 27. The 4-year-old steers were fed cut alfalfa hay; they consumed 

 36 lbs. i)er head daily and made an average daily gain per head of 1 lb. 

 The other steers were fed whole alfalfa hay. The 2-year-old lot con- 

 sumed 22 lbs. per head daily and made an average daily gain per head 

 of 1.7 lbs. The yearlings consumed 19 lbs. per head daily and made 

 an average daily gain of 2.2 lbs. " It will be seen that the steers did 

 not eat an amount of hay proportioned to either their size or their age." 



The steers were divided into 6 lots as nearly even as possible. The 

 feeding test proper lasted irom December 27 to March 18. A basal 

 ration was fed of 5 lbs. of cut corn fodder and 15 lbs. of cut alfalfa hay, 

 to which was added in case of lot 1 cut alfalfa ad lihitum; lot 2, 6 lbs. 

 of crushed wheat and 20 lbs. of cut beets; lot 3, cut corn fodder ad libi- 

 tum; lot 4, 35 lbs. of corn silage; lot 5, 30 lbs. of cut beets; and lot 6, 

 8 lbs. of crushed wheat per head daily. The steers were weighed every 

 2 weeks. The detailed results for each steer are expressed in tabular 

 form. A summary for each lot follows: 



Results of feeding experiment with steers in 1894-95. 



Lot. 



1. 



2, 

 3 

 4 

 5 

 6 



Total food consumed. 



Hay. 



rounds. 



5, 089 

 3, 2:i5 

 2,948 

 2, C51 

 3,481 

 3,691 



Corn I Wheat gilaee 

 fodder, and corn. "^ * 



Poxinds. 

 1,018 

 1,094 

 3,861 

 885 

 1,167 

 1,256 



Poundt. 



198 



1,429 



Pounds. 



7,972 



2,024 



Beets. 



Pounds. 



4, 600 

 6, 8c6 



Total di- 

 gestible 

 dry mat- 

 ter per 

 head 

 daily. 



Pounds. 

 12.6 

 15.8 

 11.9 

 !.■). 1 

 13.6 

 15.7 



Total 

 gain in 

 weight. 



Pounds. 

 150 

 342 

 357 

 213 

 273 

 252 



Gain 



per head 



daily. 



Pounds. 

 0.62 

 1.41 

 1. 59 

 .88 

 1.15 

 1.06 



