ANIMAL PRODUCTION. 803 



obtained. The fact is pointed out thai this feeding stuff was better digested by steers 

 than by pigs. The finely ground product is regarded as preferable to one which is 

 coarsely ground. 



The feeding of farm animals with molasses at Noyelles-sur-Escaut, H. 

 Hitier {.Tour. Agr. Prat., n. ser., <<? (1904), No. 86, pp. 802-804).— The successful 

 feeding of molasses as part of a ration fur horses and draft oxen is noted. 



Animal husbandry, J. Withycombe {Oregon Sin. Rpt. mo.;, /,p. 24-28). — The 

 author states that in general the work of the department of animal husbandry has 

 been in connection with fattening pips, feeding dairy cows and sheep, and soiling 

 cows and pigs. 



"An appreciable increase in the annual yield of milk from the station herd has 

 occurred since the adoption of soiling instead of permitting tin- rows to run on pas- 

 ture. The soiling of hogs with alfalfa has not been satisfactory; which is apparently 

 due to the tendency of the plant t<> rapidly develop woody substance, thus lessening 

 its palatability. Rape ami other tender, succulent forage gave satisfactory results." 



In a test undertaken to learn the cost of feeding a cow for beef it was found that 

 there was a gain of 265 lbs. in 114 days, a pound of gain requiring 4.02 lbs. of mill 

 feed (wheat bran, linseed-cake meal, and crushed' wheat 2:1:1), 2.76 lbs. of mixed 

 clover and grass hay, and 14.11 Lbs. of steamed vetch, clover, and corn silage. The 

 author calculates that there was a net profit of $3.71. The dressed carcass was 54 

 per cent of the live weight. 



A test was undertaken to determine whether a dry cow can be maintained in good 

 condition during the winter without concentrated feed, a 4-year-old Shorthorn in 

 excellent condition being selected. The ration consisted of mixed clover and grass 

 hay with steamed clover, vetch, and corn silage. The total amounts consumed in 4 

 months, beginning January 1, were 1,595 lbs. of hay and 1,420 lbs. of silage. During 

 this time there was a total gain of 25 lbs. "It will be noted that the cow was win- 

 tered very inexpensively." 



In a test with calves a calf feeder was compared with the usual method of allowing 

 them to drink from a bucket. In the 91 days of the test a calf weighing 120 lbs. 

 gained L22 11 is. when fed from a bucket and another animal weighing 95 lbs. at the 

 start gained 130 lbs., while a calf weighing 64 lbs. at the beginning of the test and 

 fed with a calf feeder pained 12S 11 is. All were given 6 lbs. of new milk night and 

 morning with as much mill feed and hay as they would consume. 



The healthfulness of silage for sheep is a matter regarding which opinions differ, so 

 a test was undertaken with a Mock of 25 breeding ewes and a ram. They were fed 

 all the steamed vetch and clover silage they would eat with about 0.5 lb. of oats per 

 head per day in addition. During the 48 days of the test the sheep gained 122 lbs., 

 consuming 6.58 lbs. of silage and 0.48 lb. of oats per pound of gain. With the excep- 

 tion of 1 animal the flock was apparently in the best of health at the close of the 

 experiment. 



The tests with pigs have been noted from a previous publication (E. S. R., 16, 

 p. 84). 



Experiments in beef production, W. J. Kennedy et al. I Iowa Sin. Bui. 7!», 

 pp. 266-804). — In the first of the 3 studies reported light, medium, and heavy grain 

 rations were compared with 3 lots of 50 steers each, weighing not far from 1,075 lbs. 

 per head at the beginning of the trial. 



When on full feed it was the intention to give about 16 lbs. of grain per head per 

 day to lot 1, about 20 lbs. to lot 2, and about 24 lbs. to lot 3, and this plan was fol- 

 lowed in the main throughout the test, which covered 189 days. The grain fed was 

 at first snapped corn, later shelled corn, and then corn meal. About the middle of 

 the feeding period Buffalo gluten feed and later oil meal and oats formed a part of 

 the ration. A variety of coarse fodder was used in the test, including wheat straw, 

 oat straw, sheaf oats, and clover hay, only one sort being fed at a time. 

 22868— No. 8—05 6 



