916 EXPERIMENT STATION RECORD. 



The fattening of cattle, J. W. Robertson (Canada Exptl. Farms 

 Bpt. 1895, pp. 183-19 i). — The author quotes the work of previous years 

 (E. S. ]v., 0, p. 450) aud reports L* additional experiments. The tirst 

 was made with 8 steers, divided into 2 uniform lots. Daring a prelim- 

 inary period of 2 weeks both lots were fed a ration of 50 lbs. of corn 

 silage, 30 lbs. of turnips and inangel-wurzels, and 15 lbs, of hay. The 

 experiment proper lasted from January 17 to May 23, 1894, 18 weeks. 

 Lot 1 was fed a ration consisting of 50 lbs. of corn silage, 5 lbs. of 

 straw, and mixed grains composed of equal parts by weight of ground 

 peas, barley, aiid wheat. Lot 2 was fed the same ration as lot 1, except 

 that Robertson's silage mixture (composed of corn, horse beans, and 

 heads of sunflowers) was substituted for corn silage. The mixed grain 

 was weighed out to each animal separately. Lot 1 was fed 5 lbs. per 

 day at first and the amount gradually increased to 7 lbs., and lot 2 was 

 fed 1 lb. and gradually increased to 3 lbs. The details of the experi- 

 ment are tabulated. The financial statement is based on corn silage 

 at 12, Robertson silage at $2.50, straw at $1, and mixed grain at $20 

 per ton. 



The average gain in weight of lot 1 was 164.75 lbs. and the cost of 

 100 lbs. of gain $8.32. The average gain in weight of lot 2 was 95 lbs. 

 and the cost of 100 lbs. of gain $11.39. In the author's opinion the 

 animals on the Robertson silage did not show a satisfactory gain during 

 the first 12 weeks of the experiment. 



The second experiment was made with 8 steers, divided into 2 uni- 

 form lots. It lasted from December 19, 1894, to June 5, 1895, and 

 was divided into 2 periods of 16 aud 8 weeks, respectively. Each lot 

 was fed 25 lbs. of turnips, 5 lbs. of hay, and lbs. of mixed grain (equal 

 parts by weight of ground peas, barley, wheat, oil cake, and wheat 

 bran). In addition lot 1 received 50 lbs. of corn silage and lot 2, 50 lbs. 

 of Robertson silage. The mixed meal was weighed out to each animal 

 separately, lot 1 being given 6 lbs. per head daily, and lot 2, 2 lbs. In 

 the second period the corn silage and Robertson silage were reversed. 

 One steer was dropped from each lot. 



The financial statement is based on the same figures as the previous 

 year, with the addition of hay at $8, roots at $4, and mixed grain at 

 $20 per ton. 



The total increase in weight of the steers on corn silage was 876 lbs. 

 and the cost per 100 lbs. of gain $9.85; and the increase in weight on 

 Robertson's silage was 951 lbs. and the cost of 100 lbs. of gain $7.75. 

 The conclusion is reached that " the cost for food consumed per 100 lbs. 

 of increase in weight was 27.1 per cent greater on corn silage, roots, 

 hay, and meal than it was on Robertson's silage, roots, hay, and meal." 



Feeding cattle, S. A. Bedford ( Canada Exptl. Farms Rpt 1895, 

 pp. 301-303).— This is a report of experiments carried on at the Bran- 

 don Experimental Farm during 1895. A feeding experiment, lasting 

 72 days, was made with 4 steers, divided into 2 lots. Each lot was 



