872 EXPERIMENT STATION RECORD. [Vol.38 



those in lot 1 were fed ear corn and cottonseed hulls, in lots 2 and 4 cottonseed 

 hulls, and in lot 3 corn silage. The steers in lots 1, 2, and 3 were fed 96 days, 

 and those in lot 4, 111 days. Those in lot 1 made an average daily increase of 

 1.61 lbs. per head at a cost of 12.96 cts. per pound ; lot 2, 1.42 lbs. at 11.21 cts. ; 

 lot 3, 2.07 lbs. at a cost of 7.6 cts.; and lot 4, 1.43 lbs. at a cost of 9.4 cts. 

 per pound. 



From the two years' work the following conclusions are drawn, applicable to 

 local conditions : Good hay materially increases the cost of fattening and should 

 be replaced by cheaper roughages where possible. Ear corn increases gains and 

 improves the finish. The cost and availability of corn for fattening cattle 

 should be carefully reckoned and compared with cottonseed meal when ration- 

 ing. The gains with corn silage in the experiments are striking, and attention 

 is called to the value of corn for ensiling and its utilization in this form in the 

 region for cattle feeding. Cottonseed meal, even in moderate amounts, proved 

 efficient, and it, as also cottonseed hulls, produced economical and satisfactory 

 gains. 



Owing to the long shipping distances the shrinkage of these cattle on ship- 

 ment to market was large. It was fairly uniform on all lots. 



Farmers with surplus feed, especially roughages, should feel safe in feeding 

 steers in the winter when the prices of feeders and cottonseed meal are favorable 

 and shipping points for fat cattle are not too far distant. 



The utilization of dry farm crops in beef production, L. Foster and H. G. 

 Smith (New Mexico Sta. Bui. 108 {1917), pp. 3^, figs. 6). — These experiments, 

 carried out in cooperation vvith the Bureau of Plant Industry of the U. S. De- 

 partment of Agriculture, covered three winter periods. They were made to 

 determine if local crops grown under dry-farming conditions could be profitably 

 employed in feeding range steers for beef. The feeds used were milo maize, 

 Kafir corn, and other sorghums, and cowpea hay fed dry and ensiled. Cotton- 

 seed meal also used was the only feed brought in. The steers were range 

 grown in the neighborhood of Tucumcari, N. Mex., those of the first experi- 

 ment covering 3-year-olds, those of the second under 17 months old, and those 

 of the third were " long yearlings." Tables are given showing the costs of the 

 locally grown feeds. 



In the first experiment two lots of three steers each were fed ground milo 

 maize heads and Kafir corn silage. In addition lot 1 was fed cowpea hay and 

 lot 2 cottonseed meal and shredded Kafir corn stover. The steers in lot 1 

 made an average daily gain per head for 76 days of 2.84 lbs. at a cost of feed 

 per pound of gain of 4.19 cts. Those in lot 2 made a daily average gain of 

 2.39 lbs. at a cost per pound of 5.45 cts. 



In the second experiment two lots of five steers each were fed the same 

 rations as in the previous experiment. The steers in lot 1 made an average 

 daily gain per head for 122 days of 2.14 lbs. at a cost of 4.78 cts. per pound 

 of gain. Those in lot 2 made an average daily gain of 1.48 lbs. at a cost of 

 6.07 cts. per pound of gain. The average rate of gain in lot 2 was lowered by 

 the results with one animal which was not a good feeder. 



The third experiment was divided into two periods. The first test was made 

 by 10 steers on 48 acres of pasture for 50 days, and being fed in addition 25 

 lbs. of cottonseed cake daily and as much Kafir corn silage as they would con- 

 sume up to 200 lbs. They made an average daily gain per head of 1.71 lbs. at 

 a cost per pound of 4.52 cts. 



In the second period they were taken off pasture, divided into two lots of five 

 each, and fed for 55 days. They were fed the same feeds as in the previous 

 experiments except that shredded sorghum fodder was substituted for the 



