806 EXPERIMENT STATION RECORD. 



according to the data collected, was 1.66 lbs., and in the case of 2-year-olds it was 

 1.87 lbs. 



As regards breeds most in favor, about 50 per cent of the correspondents stated 

 that Shorthorns gave the best returns; about 20 per cent favored Herefords, and 18 

 per cent Angus. About 50 per cent of those who replied preferred 2-year-olds for 

 stock cattle and feeders, the remainder being about equally divided in their preference 

 for older and younger animals. As regards weight, some 40 per cent of the corre- 

 spondents preferred cattle weighing from 800 to 1,000 lbs. for stockers and feeders; 

 26 per cent favored those weighing less than 800 lbs., and 34 percent 1,000 lbs. 

 or over. 



Information was also sought regarding the feeding of spayed heifers and less than 

 one-third of those who replied had made the attempt. "Of those who sometimes 

 used heifers as feeders about one-half report that they have been able to realize as 

 much profit from feeding them as from feeding steers." 



The food value of a pound of milk solids, C. L. Beach (Connecticut Starrs Sta. 

 Ilul. 31, pp. J'!, figs. 14).- — The food value for young animals of milk carrying differ- 

 ent percentages of fat was studied with calves, pigs, and lambs. 



In the case of calves, which were being reared for dairy animals, 1.33 lbs. total 

 solids from milk with 5. 1 per cent fat was required per pound of gain in a test covering 

 53 days as compared with 1.16 lbs. from milk carrying 3.27 per cent fat fed for 63 

 days. In the case of 2 calves, each fed for 30 days, 0.91 lb. total milk solids from 

 milk carrying 3.27 per cent fat was required per pound of gain, as compared with 

 1.03 lbs. from milk with 4.6 per cent fat. 



In the first test with pigs 2 animals fed skim milk gained 62 lbs. in 40 days. Two 

 similar animals receiving milk poor in fat (containing 3.54 percent) gained 54.8 lbs., 

 while 2 animals fed milk rich in fat (containing 5.2 per cent) gained 42.2 lbs. 

 Throughout the remainder of the test, which covered 70 days, a similar ratio was 

 noted. Some data are given regarding the total solids required per pound of gain. 

 An idea of the relative amounts may be gathered from the fact that from the fortieth 

 to the fiftieth day of the feeding period 1.48 lbs. of milk solids were required per 

 pound of gain when supplied by skim milk, 1.18 lbs. by milk poor in fat, and 2 lbs. 

 by milk rich in fat. In every case the milk was fed ad libitum. 



In a second test under practically the same conditions with 3 lots of 2 pigs each 

 the lot receiving skim milk gained 72 lbs. in 30 days; the lot fed milk poor in fat 

 (3.3 per cent) gained 58 lbs. and the pair fed milk rich in fat (5.7 per cent) gained 

 50 lbs. The total solids required per pound of gain in the 3 cases were 1.48, 1.40, 

 and 1.56 lbs., respectively. At the end of the test one of the pigs fed milk poor in 

 fat and one of those fed milk rich in fat were slaughtered, the dressed weight in the 

 2 cases being 65 and 70 per cent of the live weight, respectively. The weight of the 

 liver, spleen, and blood were practically the same in the 2 cases. The sixth rib of 

 each pig was analyzed, showing 21.25 per cent fat in the skim milk fed pig and 35.68 

 per cent in the pig fed rich milk. The pig fed the milk with low fat content had 

 1.78 per cent more lean meat, 11.93 per cent more water, and 14.43 per cent less fat 

 than the other. 



In a test with lambs a lot of 2 animals gained 37.7 lbs. in 60 days on milk contain- 

 ing 3 per cent fat as conqjared with 30.4 lbs. in the case of a lot of 2 animals fed milk 

 containing 5.6 per cent fat, the total milk solids required per pound of gain being 

 1.08 lbs. and 1.37 lbs. In addition to milk each lot consumed 36 lbs. of hay. 



Considering the tests with all the animals, the author calculates that 1.22 lbs. of 

 milk solids from milk poor in fat is required per pound of gain as compared with 

 1.47 lbs. from milk rich in fat. The results of some studies regarding the size of fat 

 globules in milk are also reported. 



The general conclusions drawn from the investigation as a whole follow: 



"These experiments were made with young animals, in which, no doubt, the 

 digestive fluids were not in full and active operation. 



