ANIMAL PRODUCTION. 



1107 



stuffs as lot 2 with gluten inoal in addition. After a iireliininary period of 3 weeks, 

 the test proper began Fi^bruary 8, and covered 2 periods of 63 days each. During 

 the first period ungronnd corn was fed, and during the second corn-and-cob meal. 

 At the beginning of the trial each lot contained 13 animals averaging 917 lbs. each in 

 weight. As the trial progressed one was sold from each lot. The steers were fed in 

 open yards, with sheds, at first coarse fodder ad libitum with 10 lbs. per head per day 

 of grain, the amount being increased as the test progressed. At the conclusion of 

 the trial the steers were slaughteretl, the weight of the dressed carcass, organs, etc., 

 being recorded. 

 The following table summarizes the results of the test as a whole: 



Corn fiupplemented by other feeds firr steers. 



Fee(liii,ir stuff 



Lot 1 , corn and clover hay 



Lot 2, corn, timothy hay, and corn stover 



Lot 3. corn, gluten "meal, timothy hay, and com 

 stover 



Nutri- 

 tive ratio 



of the 

 rations. 



1: 9.43 

 1:13.03 



Average 

 daily 



gain per 

 steer. 



Pounds. 

 2.51 

 1.858 



Grain 

 eaten per 

 pound of 



gain. 



Pounds. 

 7.68 

 9. 87 



Coarse 



fodder 



eaten per 



pound of 



gain. 



Pounds. 

 4.82 

 5.88 



5.14 



Relation 

 of live to 

 dressed 

 weight. 



Per cent. 

 58.9 

 57.2 



During the first period of the te.st 7 pigs, averaging 130 lbs. each in weight, fol- 

 lowed each lot of steers, the number selected being just sufficient to utilize all the 

 undigested grain and make satisfactory gains without additional feeding. During 

 the second period each lot was followed by 4 pigs averaging 1.36 lbs. in weight. The 

 smaller number was selected because the corn-and-cob meal furnished less undigested 

 residue than the unground grain. 



Considering the test as a whole the pigs following the 3 lots gained 542, 482, and 

 422 lbs., respectively. Taking into account both the beef and pork produced the 

 author calculates that tiie average profit per steer in the 3 lots was |13.16, $4.45, and 

 S514.08. In his opinion the test emphasizes the importance of coarse fodder in steer 

 feeding and indicates that clover hay may be advantageously used on account of the 

 nitrogenous material it supplies, being especially valuable when a concentrated feed, 

 such as gluten meal, is also used. Neither the ration of corn and nitrogenous coarse 

 feed nor corn and nitrogenous concentrated feed was regarded as entirely satisfactory 

 and it is believed "that some judicious combination of the two, yet to be determined, 

 will be found more satisfactory and profitable than either. 



"A ration of corn, timothy hay, and corn stover has little to reconnnend it fur beef 

 production. It is not favorable for the production of large, rapid, or economical 

 gains; nor is the beef produced by the use of such a ration desirable. It requires 1.5 

 lbs. more grain and 0.7 lb. more roughage to produce each pound of gain where 

 timothy hay supplemented corn than where clover hay was used. 



"The corn and clover hay ration possessed the following advantages: [It is] avail- 

 al)le on Illinois farms; [it] produced large gains; considered either from the stand- 

 point of total beef produced or the cost of such beef it was a large and economical 

 producer; [and] the beneficial effects of the clover hay in the ration of lot 1 appeared 

 to extend to the pigs, as not only were greater gains in live weight of pigs made in 

 lot 1 than in the other lots, but also more economical gains." 



In the author's opinion the slaughter test showed that a ration of corn and timothy 

 had a tendency to produce a high percentage of internal fat without a relatively high 

 liercentage of dressed beef, thickness of flesh, or layer of surface fat, which are 

 important items from a market standpoint. 



"It is impossible to determine whether the corn and clover hay ration or the corn, 



28297— No. 11—03 6 



