470 EXPERIMENT STATION RECORD. [Vol. 38 



Both when the steer was in raecUura flesh and when fat the digestibility of the 

 lighter ration was the greater. The results showed the corresponding rations 

 to be equally digested with the unfattened and fattened animal. The relative 

 losses of nitrogen, carbon, and energy in the urine were less on the heavy ration 

 and a little greater in the fattened condition compared with the unfattened. 

 The production of combustible gases was less on the heavier ration with the 

 animal in both medium condition and fattened. The percentage of gross 

 energy of the feed metabolizable was greater in the heavier ration, with the 

 animal in either condition. The larger share of the additional heat in the 

 heavier ration was eliminated by evaporation of water. The heat increment 

 from a unit of feed was but little more in the fattened condition, while the 

 net energy values and percentages of metabolizable energy available for gain 

 were but slightly less. 



After an increase in weight of 300 lbs. during three months' fattening the 

 maintenance requirement of the steer was increased 36 per cent, which was 

 greater than the comparative increase in weight or body surface. 



"The lower economic efficiency of the fattened animal in this experiment 

 was due chiefly to his higher maintenance requirement and only to a small 

 extent, if at all, to a difference in the utilization of the .surplus of feed over 

 the maintenance requirement." 



Experiments in crop utilization, C. R. Letteer {U. S. Dept. Agr., Bur. 

 Plant Indus., Work San Antonio Expt. Farm, 1916, pp. 19-22). — Winter oats, 

 field peas, Sudan grass, and Dwarf milo maize were used as pasture for eight 

 pigs averaging 35 lbs. each. As the season was bad because of drought and 

 early frost poor results generally were obtained and no conclusions were 

 drawn. 



Two yearling steers were pastured on 1.5 acres of winter oats from Decem- 

 ber 20, 1915, to March 6, 191G. The oats sown October 21 were divided into 

 quarter-acre plats and were eaten very close at the time of the removal of the 

 steers. The land was then seeded to Sudan grass, but the growth was so 

 poor due to drouglit that it would support the steers only at intervals and no 

 reliable data could be drawn. 



Commercial feeding stuffs, J. L. Hills, C. H. Jones, and G. F. Andeeson 

 (Ver7nont Sta. Bui. 204 {1911), pp. 6-39).— The feeding stuffs examined in- 

 cluded nearly 600 samples of about 350 brands of cottonseed meals and feeds, 

 lin.seed meals, gluten feeds, dried distillers' and brewers' grains, wheat offals, 

 hominy feeds, dried beet pulps, alfalfa meal, proprietary feeds, and miscella- 

 neous feeds of provender, corn meal, oats, and rye. 



Almost two-thirds of the cottonseed meals, two-fifths of the distillers' dried 

 grains, one-tenth of the wheat feeds, and one out of six of the proprietary 

 and poultry feeds were found deficient in protein. Suggestions are made re- 

 garding methods of avoiding buying inferior goods. The feeds examined are 

 listed alphabetically and their guaranties and deficiencies pointed out. 



The 28-hour law regulating- the interstate transportation of live stock: 

 Its purpose, requirements, and enforcement, H. Goding and A. J. Raub ({7, S. 

 Dept. Agr. Bui. 589 {1918), pp. 19, pis. 5, figs. 6).— The text of the present law, 

 passed by Congress in 1906 (E. S. R., 19, p. 995), which supplanted the first 

 act of 1873, is given and attention called to its pui'pose and requirements. 

 Abuses under the law are noted and the favorable results from improved facili- 

 ties for handling live stock set forth. While there have been many violations 

 of the law and penalties applied, yet the influence has been good and conditions 

 continuously bettered. 



Increased cattle production on southwestern ranges, J. T. Jakdine and L. C. 

 HuETT (U. S. Dept. Agr. Bui. 588 {1917), pp. 31, pis. 12, figs. 2).— This bulletin 



