516 



EXPERIMENT STATION KECORD. 



The steers were weighed at the station and sold in Denver, where 

 they were again weighed. The shrinkage in weight is discussed. The 

 gains made on each ration and the comparative gains made on the 

 various rations are discussed at length on the basis of the weight of 

 the steers at the station and in Denver. 



On either basis corn fodder, silage, and alfalfa are very much alike. 

 The grain-fed steers gained nearly twice as much as those fed alfalfa 

 hay. Comparing alfalfa and beets there was a decided advantage in 

 favor of the beets. More food was consumed with grain and beets than 

 with alfalfa hay alone, i^o definite conclusion was drawn regarding 

 the comparative value of grain and beets. When extra grain was fed 

 with beets the steers ate much more than on beets or grain alone, and 

 better returns were obtained with both feeding stuffs alone than in 

 combination. 



The financial statements are based on alfalfa and beets at $4, corn 

 fodder $5, silage -$3, and grain $15 per ton. The cost of each lot, of the 

 food consumed, and the profits are shown in the following table : 



Financial results of feeding experiment with steers in 1894-95. 



"It will be seen from this that the largest increase in market value is made by the 

 lot ou beets and grain, followed by the grain, and then by the beets; the least by 

 the silage. The value of the food eaten follows in the same proportion for the first 

 three, but the alfalfa lot is the cheapest food, and the fodder corn next, leaving the 

 silage about the middle." 



The net returns per ton for the alfalfa fed to the different lots, based 

 on the prices mentioned above, are stated to range from $8.12 with lot 

 4 to $17.70 with lot 3. 



The relation between the age of the steers and the gain, shrinkage, 

 profit, etc., is discussed at considerable length. 



"The important lesson to be learned from this test is that well-bred steers that 

 have been wintered on hay the first season can be profitably fed for beef and marketed 

 when they are coming 2 years old. This cuts off from 1 to 2 years from the present 

 common method of running cattle on the range. It allows more head of stock to be 

 kept on a given range and adds at least one-half to the number that can be turned 

 off each year." 



Experiments in steer feeding, 1895-96 (pp. 31-36). — A feeding experi- 

 ment having 2 periods was made with 15 grade steers divided into 5 lots 

 of 3 steers each. Three of the steers were 2 years old and the remainder 

 3 years old. In the first period, which lasted from November 7 to De- 

 cember 19, lots 1 and 4 were fed alfalfa hay only ; lot 2, alfalfa hay and 



