1918.] ANIMAL PRODUCTION". 873 



shredded Kafir corn stover in lot 2. The steers in lot 1 made an average 

 daily gain per head of 2.07 lbs. at a cost per pound of 5.98 cts. Those in hjt 2 

 made a corresponding gain of 1.51 lbs. at a cost per pound of 8.43 cts. 



These experiments indicate that feeds necessary for fattening range cattle 

 with a properly balanced ration can be grown under local dry-farming condi- 

 tions. Very favorable results are shown with cowpea hay compared with cot- 

 tonseed meal that must be purchased. It may also take the place of alfalfa. 

 As silage, inmiature Kafir corn gave satisfactory results. The reservation of 

 native pasture for winter feeding is deemed advisable from the results in the 

 last experiment. 



Cattle feeding. — XIII, "Winter steer feeding, 1916-17, J. H. Skinner and 

 F. G. King (Indiana Sta. Bui. 206 (1917), pp. S-27; popular ed., pp. 8).— This 

 is a continuation of work previously reported (E. S. R., 36, p. 564). The ob- 

 .iect of the experiments was to obtain further information on the comparative 

 value of leguminous hay alone and combined with corn silage for fattening 

 cattle ; to test the comparative value of clover with alfalfa hay for cattle on 

 full feed ; and to test the value of a full feed of corn in the ration with a 

 limited feed of corn combined with corn silage. 



In a ration of shelled corn, cottonseed meal, and clover hay, the addition of 

 33.88 lbs. of silage daily displaced 2.79 lbs. of the corn and 11.46 lbs. of the 

 hay per steer, while the rate of gain was increased 0.19 lb. per head daily and 

 the cost of gain decreased $2.48 per 100 lbs. With the same ration, except 

 that alfalfa hay was used instead of clover hay, 34.21 lbs. of silage daily dis- 

 placed 3.06 lbs. of corn and 13 lbs. of hay, while the rate of gain per day was 

 lowered 0.15 lb. daily and the cost of gain decreased 41 cts. per 100 lbs. The 

 steers with corn silage in the ration sold for 25 cts. per 100 lbs. higher than 

 those without. The profit per steer, not counting that made by the pigs fol- 

 lowing, was increased $10:08 each when silage was added to the ration con- 

 taining clover hay aad $6.10 when silage was added to the ration containing 

 alfalfa hay. 



Cattle receiving a full feed of shelled corn in addition to a ration of cotton- 

 seed meal, corn silage, and clover hay made a daily gain of 2.5 lbs. at a cost 

 of 17.51 cts. per pound of gain. They were valued at $12 per 100 lbs. and 

 made a profit, including that of pigs following, of $35.65 per head. The steers 

 on the same ration but with the corn eliminated consumed 19.33 lbs. of silage 

 and 0.87 lb. of hay more per day. They gained 1.63 lbs. daily at a cost per 

 pound of 14.87 cts., and when fat were valued at $10.75 per 100 lbs. and gave 

 a profit, including pork, of $21.21 per head. 



With one-half the corn eliminated the average increased silage consumption 

 was 8.77 lbs. and hay 0.7 lb. daily. The steers gained 1.62 lbs. daily at a cost of 

 20.97 cts. per pound of gain, were valued at $10.85 per 100 lbs. when fat, and 

 returned a profit, including pork, of $14.95 per head. 



In the ration where no corn was fed the first month but afterwards added 

 in increasing amounts to the fifth month when it was 11 lbs. dually per head, 

 the average increased consumption of roughage was 10.15 lbs. of corn silage and 

 1.97 lbs. of hay daily per head. The steers gained daily 1.91 lbs. at a cost of 

 18.12 cts. per pound of gain. They were valued at $10.85 per 100 lbs. when 

 fat and yielded a profit, including pork, of $20.53 per head. 



In a comparison of clover and alfalfa hays with and without silage, the 

 basal ration was made up of shelled corn and cottonseed meal. With clover 

 hay as the roughage the steers consumed slightly less corn and much less hay 

 than with alfalfa as the roughage. With clover hay they made an average 

 daily gain per head of 2.31 lbs. at a cost of 19.99 cts. per pound of gain, while 



