49(5 EXPERIMENT STATION RECORD. 



component of a grain ration for the production of milk. It can also probably be 

 used with good results for fattening and as a partial grain feed for horses. 



"Because of its coarse mechanical condition, it will serve as a diluter for the heavier 

 concentrates. 



"It is rather inferior in nutritive effect to corn meal (probably 10 per cent)." 



Feeding beet molasses and pulp to sheep and steers, L. A. Merrii.i. and 

 K. W. Clark ( Utah Sto. Bui. 90^ pp. 51-65, fig. 1). — The experience of some of the 

 experiment stations and of private individuals in feeding beet molasses and pulp to 

 farm animals is summarized, and tests with 6 lots of 2 steers and 6 lots of 16 sheep 

 reported. The rations fed the sheep and steers were the same. One lot was fed 

 alfalfa hay with beet pulp ad libitum. All the others were fed alfalfa hay with bran 

 and shorts, the amounts varying in different cases. With 3 of the lots this ration 

 was supplemented by beet pulp ad libitum and with the remaining lot by molasses 

 (8 lbs. per head per day). . 



In the case of the steers the average daily gain per head ranged from 1.48 lbs. on 

 a ration of alfalfa hay and beet pulp ad libitum to 2.26 lbs. on the alfalfa hay and bran 

 and shorts, with beet pulp ad libitum. The dry matter eaten per pound of gain ranged 

 from 8.87 lbs. in the case of one of the lots fed bran and shorts and beet pulp ad 

 libitum with a limited amount of alfalfa hay to 13.05 lbs. on alfalfa hay and beet pulp 

 ad libitum. The cost of a pound of gain ranged from 2.8 cts. on alfalfa hay and beet 

 pulp to 4.93 cts. on alfalfa hay and bran and shorts. 



In the case of the sheep the gains in weight ranged from 0.07 lb. per head per day 

 on alfalfa hay with beet pulp ad libitum to 0.2 lb. on alfalfa hay with bran and shorts 

 and beet pulp ad libitum, and the dry matter eaten per pound of gain from 8.5 lbs. 

 on alfalfa hay with a limited amount of bran and shorts and beet pulp ad libitum to 

 18.06 lbs. on alfalfa hay and beet pulp ad libitum. The cost of a pound of gain ranged 

 from 3.11 cts. in the case of the lot fed the ration containing a limited amount of 

 bran and shorts to 5.17 cts. witli the lot fed a limited amount of alfalfa hay with 

 bran and shorts and beet pulp ad libitum. 



The authors note that, when slaughtered, the steers fed beet pulp ad libitum with 

 alfalfa hay and bran and shorts produced the best quality of meat. The loin was 

 heaviest and the flesh fairly well marbled, firm, and juicy. The sheep fed the 

 largest quantity of grain gave the best carcasses, but with them the profit was less 

 than with those receiving little or no grain. Some of the authors' conclusions follow: 



"Molasses fed to steers had a value of $2.35 per ton. As a sheep food it did not 

 give the results expected. Beet pulp when fed to steers with grain and lucern had 

 a value of from $1.66 to $2.54 per ton, and when fed to sheep its value ranged from 

 $1.08 to $3.66 per ton. Steers that received grain made larger and cheaper gains and 

 required less dry matter per pound of gain the latter part of the feeding period than 

 the fore part. Steers which received only lucern and pulp made practically as good 

 gains the fore part of the feeding period as the latter part." 



A number of rations for steers composed largely of home-grown feeding stuffs are 

 suggested. 



Feeding teers, E. B. Ferris {Mississippi Sta. Bui. 83, pp. 1-4)- — The author 

 states that steers pastured for 94 days during the winter on 5 acres for the purpose of 

 manuring the land were kept at a loss. The average daily gain of the 28 animals 

 was about 1.9 lbs. per head. One steer died as a result, it is thought, of eating 

 poison ivy. The parking of the cattle on the light sandy soil of the substation 

 enriched the land and improved its water-holding capacity in a very satisfactory 

 manner. 



Experiments in feeding steers, D. II. Otis (Kansas Sta. Bui. 124, pp- 1-30, 

 ph. 19). — The relative gains made by cattle of different ages were studied, calves 6 

 months old, yearlings, 2-year-old and 3-year-old steers being fed a ration of alfalfa 

 hay, corn, and Kafir corn. The lot of calves contained 19 animals and all the other 



