812 EXPERIMENT STATION RECORD. 



ration poor in protein, having- a nutritive ratio of 1 : 9.7, and containing 

 2 parts of corn meal to 1 part of bran. All the steers were fed Lay, and 

 during the winter corn fodder and silage also. Steers 1 and 3 were fed 

 for 17 months, and steers 2 and 4 for 27 months. The results, including 

 the analyses of the grain rations fed, are reported. The steer fed a 

 ration rich in protein for 17 months consumed a total of 9,700 lbs. of 

 food and made a gain of 737 lbs., while the steer fed the same ration 

 for 27 months consumed 17,329 lbs. and made a gain of 962 lbs. The 

 steer fed a ration poor in i^rotein for 17 months consumed 10,234 lbs. 

 and made a gain of 552 lbs., while the steer fed the same ration for 27 

 months consumed 16,041 lbs. and made a gain of 1,005 lbs. In discuss- 

 ing the experiment the author divides it into periods of about 90 days. 

 The food consumed and the gains made by each steer for each period 

 are expressed in tabular form. 



At the end of about 17 months steers 1 and 3 were slaughtered, and 

 the remahiing steers (2 and 4) 10 mouths later. In every case the blood 

 and the various organs of the carcass were Aveighed and analyzed. 

 Tables are given which show the composition of the blood and organs, 

 including the bones, spleen, and intestines. The percentage composi- 

 tion of the entire carcass, exclusive of skin and contents of stomach 

 and intestines, and the composition of the right side and the edible 

 portion of the entire carcass are also given in tabular form. The 

 author discusses the effect of the different rations ui^on the composi- 

 tion of the carcass, and concludes that the two rations had no particu- 

 lar effect on the composition of the carcass and organs. 



"(1) At the end of 15 mouths' feeding the pair of steers fed ou the ration richer in 

 protein had gained 221 lbs. of live weight more than the pair fed the ration less rich 

 in protein. The later growth with 2 steers showed a difference in favor of the ration 

 less rich in j)rotein. 



"(2) The relative weights of organs and parts of the body was jiractically the same 

 with the steers of the same age, independently of the ration. 



"(3) The kind of growth caused by the 2 rations, Viz, the proportions of water, 

 protein, fat, and ash, was not materiall.v diU'ereut with the steers of the same size. 

 This is true whether we consider the entire bodies, the dressed carcasses, or the edible 

 portions of the carcasses. With steers fed for the same time, the composition of the 

 entire bo(li(>s, the proportion and composition of the carcasses, and the proportions 

 and composition of the edible parts Avere practically alike. 



"(4) The older pair of steers, viz, those fed for 10 months' longer time, contained a 

 smaller ])roportion of water and a larger proportion of fat than the younger animals. 



"(5) The older animals furnished 5 lbs. per 100 more of water- free edible material 

 than the younger animals. This is equivalent to a difference of 12 lbs. of fresh edible 

 meat." 



Alfalfa or lucern, A. A. Mills ( Utah Sta. Bui. 44, pp. 5^).— The 

 work here reported is a continuation of that published in Bulletin 31 

 of the station (E. S. E., 6, p. 204). The object of these experiments 

 was (1) to determine the yield and feeding value of early, medium, and 

 late cutting, and first, second, and third crojis of alfalfa, and to com- 

 pare alfalfa as a feeding stuff" with red clover and timothy; and (2) to 

 compare alfalfa with mixed hay and with alfalfa mixed with straw. 



