796 EXPEEIMENT STATION RECORD. 



shorts, making a gain of 1,340 ll)s. Tlie estimated net protit ou the pigs was equal 

 to $72.17." 



Comparison of shelter and rations in feeding steers, 1<1 A. Burnett (Xehrmka 

 Sia. Bui. 7-T, irp- 19-23). — The test proper, which was undertaken to study the im- 

 portance of shelter, was begun after a preliminary period of 17 days, with 18 steers 

 divided into 3 equal lots. The animals in lot 1 were each kept in a small yard 

 having an open shed facing east, those in lot 2 in l)ox stalls opening toward the south, 

 and those in lot 3 in a single open yard with an open shed which faced south and with 

 some protection on the north also. During the preliminary period the steers were 

 all fed alfalfa hay and corn meal. During the 23 weeks of the test proper they were 

 given alfalfa hay and grain, the steers in lots 1 and 2 receiving 8 lbs. of grain and 

 from 12 to 16 lbs. of alfalfa hay per head daily. Those in lot 3 were fed first 6 lbs. 

 of grain and 16 lbs. of alfalfa hay per head daily, the grain ration being increased 

 and the hay ration diminished until in the latter part of the feeding period the grain 

 amounted to from 16 to 20 lbs. and the hay to from 5 to 10 lbs. Two of the 

 steers in lots 1 and 2 and all those in lot 3 were fed corn meal only, the grain ration 

 of 2 animals each in lots 2 and 3 consisting of corn meal and oats 3:1, and of the 

 remaining 2 animals in each of these lots of corn meal and bran 3:1. At the beginning 

 of the test proper the average weight of the steers in lot 1 was 918 lbs. and of those 

 in lots 2 and 3 it was 860 lbs. The average gain of the steers fed in ojjen pens and 

 sheds was 330 lbs., of those fed in open box stalls 400 lbs. and of those fed in a large 

 open yard with a shed 315 lbs. Considering the gains with relation to the rations, 

 the 10 steers on corn meal made an average gain of 372 lbs., the 4 steers on corn meal 

 and oats 327 lbs., and the 4 on corn meal and bran 381 lbs., the total feed consumed 

 per pound of gain ranging from 8.08 lbs. in the case of one of the steers fed corn meal 

 in a box stall to 13.8 in the case of a steer fed in a shed with a yard on a corn-meal 

 ration. 



The steers were sold for slaughtering, yielding a profit of $3.16. 



" In these feeding operations, as in all feeding, the large gains proved to be the 

 cheapest gains, and these were not made by any one ration. All the extremely 

 large gains were made by steers in the box stalls in the shed. . . . In this experi- 

 ment corn meal and alfalfa in the box stall gave the largest gain. Corn meal, bran, 

 and alfalfa in the box stall gave the second largest gain. Corn meal, bran, and 

 alfalfa in the open shed and i:>en gave the third largest gain." 



Dehorning- fattening steers, G. H. True [Arizona Sta. lipt. 1902, pp. 259, 260). — 

 Twenty-one range steers and 6 heifers were dehorned with clii)pers. The average 

 loss of weight in a week was 75 lbs. per head. One steer which had not been 

 dehorned lost 20 lbs. in the same time. The next day after dehorning cresylic oint- 

 ment and pine tar were applied to the wounds of all but one of the animals. "A 

 week later the one not treated had worms in both sides of her head, while amongst 

 those treated only one had worms. All were given a second treatment and no fur- 

 ther trouble was had." 



Cattle, H. J. JNIoNSON [Jour. Khedir. Agr. Soc. and School Agr., 4 (1902), No. 2, 

 pp. 69-74, l>lx- 13) . — An illustrated description of some Egyptian cattle, the subject 

 being discussed with a view to securing improvement in local stock. 



Fattening- lambs, T. Shaw [Mbmewta Sta. Bid. 75, jjp. 193-224, figs. 5).— Three 

 experiments, which have to do with fattening lambs for market, are reported. In 

 the first the relative merits of feeding range lambs and range wethers were studied 

 with 1 lot of 20 wethers and 4 lots containing 30 lambs each. The wethers (lot 1 ) 

 were Merino grades. The lambs in lots 2, 3, and 4 were, respectively, Cots wold, 

 Oxford Down, and Shropshire grades. Those in lot 5 were essentially of Merino 

 blood. The test began October 31 and covered 18 weeks, being divided into 5 periods, 

 the last covei'ing 2 weeks and all the others 4 weeks each. Uncut hay, cut sorghum, 

 and different mixtures of bran, unground corn and oil cake were fed. Considering 



