ANIMAL PRODUCTION, 805 



Continuing earlier work (E. S. R., 14, p. 481), the desirability of supplementing 

 corn by other feeds was tested with 5 lots of 50 steers each, averaging not far from 

 800 lhs. in weight. The supplementary feeds selected and the maximum amounts 

 fed per head per day were as follows: ( >il meal 4 lbs., cotton-seed meal 4 lhs., gluten 

 feed 5 lbs., and dried blood 1.5 lhs. The basal ration was much the same as in the 

 preceding tests, and pigs followed each lot of steers. 



In the 189 days of the test the greatest gain, 367.2 lhs. per steer, was made by the 

 lot on corn and oil meal, and the smallest gain, 334.9 lbs. per steer, by the lot on 

 corn only. The greatest range in dry matter per pound of gain was also found with 

 these 2 lots, 13.15 lhs. being noted with the oil-meal ration and 15.15 with the corn 

 ration. The cost of a pound of gain ranged from 7.88 cts. on oil meal to 9.45 cts. on 

 corn and dried blood. 



The pigs and steers were slaughtered, some data of the slaughter test being 

 recorded. Taking into account all the usual factors, the authors calculate that there 

 was a loss ranging from 33 cts. with the corn-fed steers to $4.47 with those fed the 

 blood meal. From this and the earlier trial some general conclusions are drawn, 

 from which the following are quoted : 



"The use of supplemental feed stuffs in fattening cattle results in an increased rate 

 of gain, higher bloom, and in some cases in a lower cost per pound of gain, and 

 higher prices for the finished cattle. 



"It appears that gluten feed, oil meal, and cotton-seed meal are very satisfactory 

 feed stuffs; that they are especially valuable in balancing the ration when the 

 roughage used is rather inferior, such as straw; that dried blood can not be consid- 

 ered satisfactory from a practical standpoint, as the increased gain is very slight and 

 wholly disproportionate to the cost. 



"The extent to which these supplemental feeds may be profitably used depends 

 upon the price of corn, the price of supplemental feed, and the kind of roughage in 

 use. . . . 



"Corn and good clover hay, while not furnishing a perfectly balanced ration, give 

 very satisfactory gains, and under ordinary conditions may be expected to yield 

 fully as satisfactory financial profits as when supplemental feeds are used. 



"The feeder must himself determine wdiether to use such feeds, and in doing so 

 must take into account the price of other feed stuffs, the price of supplemental feeds, 

 the price of cattle, and the probable premium which the most highly finished cattle 

 will command over cattle of good finish." 



Analyses of the concentrated feeds used in the above experiments are reported. 



Present methods of beef production, II. W. Mumfoed and-L. D. Hall (Illinois 

 Sta. Circ. 79, pp. 10). — A circular letter requesting information on a number of 

 points connected with cattle raising was addressed to a large number of feeders in 

 Illinois and neighboring States, and the replies received are summarized and dis- 

 cussed. Some of the more important deductions follow: 



A significant fact brought out is that a large percentage of Illinois breeders and 

 feeders of cattle are convinced of the need of better blood in the cattle handled. It 

 has been estimated that only about 15 per cent of the native beef steers marketed in 

 Chicago are carried from birth to maturity without changing hands and this estimate 

 seems to he home out by the data secured in this investigation. 



Apparently no constant relation can be found between the value of land in any 

 locality and the proportion of cattle bred or fed there, nor did the data show that 

 distance from the cattle markets had any uniform effect on the number of cattle 

 raised. It was apparently true, however, that the principal beef-producing sections 

 are those in which corn is most extensively grown. The authors believe that under 

 average Illinois conditions it is rarely good practice to carry stock cattle a consider- 

 able time on a maintenance ration, even though subsequent gains on grass are 

 increased thereby. The average daily gain secured with yearlings on grass alone, 



