804 EXPERIMPHSTT STATION RECORD. 



The greatest gain, 322.7 lbs. per steer, was made <>n the heavy ration, and the 

 gain in this case was most expensive, costing 9.21 cts. per pound. The smallest and 

 cheapest gain, averaging 286.9 lbs. per steer and costing 8.99 cts. per pound, was 

 made on the light grain ration. The greatest range in feed eaten per pound of gain 

 was also noted with these 2 lots being 16.51 lbs. and 17.65 lbs. of dry matter per 

 pound of gain, respectively. 



Pigs (1 per steer) followed each lot, some grain being fed in addition to what they 

 could gather. The greatest gain, 125.2 lbs., was made by those following the heavy- 

 ration lot and the lowest gain, 114.8 lbs., by those following steers fed the light 

 ration. 



At the close of the test the animals were all sold and slaughtered, some data regard- 

 ing the slaughter test of the steers being recorded. Taking into account the usual 

 data for both steers and pigs, the authors calculate that the steers were fed in every 

 case at a loss, the amount being greatest on the light ration, $6.31 per steer, and least 

 on the heavy ration, $4.21 per steer. 



The conclusions which were drawn follow: 



"Gains on fattening cattle can be made at a smaller cost with light or medium 

 grain rations than when heavy grain rations are fed. [In the time covered by the 

 test] it does not appear to be possible to finish cattle on light or medium grain 

 rations so as to sell at the top of the market or for so high a price as similar cattle 

 fed on heavy grain rations. This difference in the selling price of the heavy grain 

 ration cattle will more than offset the cheaper gains made by the steers fed on the 

 light and medium rations, thus, in the end, making the feeding of the heavy grain 

 rations the most profitable to the producer. 



" Cattle fed on light grain rations will consume more roughage than those fed on 

 medium or heavy grain rations. From the gains made by the hogs which followed 

 the various lots of cattle it would appear that the cattle fed on light and medium 

 grain rations made better use of their feed than did those fed on the heavy grain 

 rations. 



' ' In the feeding of cattle for beef production the cost of producing a pound of gain 

 does not always indicate the most profitable ration, as the rate of gain and the sell- 

 ing price of the finished product must be considered." 



In the second test southern and western steers were compared, to determine 

 whether the change in climatic conditions affects the southern cattle unfavorably as 

 has sometimes been claimed. Each lot contained 50 animals, the w-estern cattle 

 averaging about 1,000 lbs. and the southern cattle not far from 750 lbs. per head. 

 Both lots were fed under similar conditions heavy grain rations, the character of the 

 rations as regards both grain and coarse fodder being practically the same as in the 

 above test. 



In the 223 days covered by the trial the southern steers gained 410.6 lbs. each on 

 an average, the cost of a pound of gain being 7.17 cts. and the dry matter required 

 per pound of gain 11.52 lbs. In the case ot the western steers the average gain was 

 378.1 lbs. per steer, the cost of a pound of gain 9.09 cts. and the dry matter eaten 

 per pound of gain 17.33 lbs. Pigs followed each lot of steers under the same con- 

 ditions as in the test noted above, those following the southern steers gaining on an 

 average 124.1 lbs. and those following the western steers 138.9 lbs. per animal. 



At the close of the test the animals were sold and slaughtered, the usual data 

 being recorded. Taking into account all the conditions, the authors calculate that 

 there was a loss of 43 cts. with the southern cattle and $5.04 with the western cattle. 

 The data reported led to the conclusion that cattle from the southern ranges may 

 be taken directly to the Iowa feed lots and used for feeding purposes, . . . and 

 when fed on the same feed stuffs, under like conditions, will make gains in point of 

 economy, equal to or greater than cattle from the western ranges. Furthermore, 

 southern range cattle show a strong inclination to take on flesh rapidly, thus round- 

 ing out and maturing early. 



