ANIMAL PRODUCTION. 1113 



spondents considered 5 or 6 months as the proper length of time for a fattening period. 

 Data were accumulated on the amounts fed to cattle of different ages at different sea- 

 sons. "In general heavier feeding is practiced in winter than in summer on gra«s. 

 This difference is much less marked, however, in the case of yearlings than with older 

 cattle. It isapparent that the common rule 'a half bushel of corn to a full feed,' 

 places the average much higher than that followed in common practice." 



As regards the daily gains when on full feeds the average of all replies received was 

 2.7 lbs. per day for cattle in summer on grass, and 2.23 lbs. per day in winter. As 

 regards the amounts of feed required per pound of gain the average values given were 

 9.24 lbs. grain and 4.28 lbs. hay. Ninety-two per cent of the correspondents gave the 

 steers all the coarse fodder they would eat during the fattening period and 41 per 

 cent of those from whom replies were received made a practice of changing the coarse 

 fodder in order to induce the steers to eat large amounts. 



Considerable difference of opinion was expressed as to the number of cattle which 

 can be advantageously fed together. " One of the most successful cattle feeders in 

 Illinois reports that 2 carloads should be the maximum number fed in one lot, and 

 that one load is preferable, his thought being that cattle are more quiet in small num- 

 bers and in uniform grades." 



Bullock feeding experiments (Murk Lane Express Agr. Jour., 92 {1905), Nos. 

 3823, p. 24; 3824, pj>. 56, 57). — Experiments carried out by the University of Leeds 

 and the Yorkshire Council for Agricultural Education, beginning in 1901, are sum- 

 marized. These had to do ,» ith the possibility of substituting molasses for roots, the 

 comparative value of pulp and sliced roots in feeding steers, and the value of gluten 

 feed and meal. The general conclusions drawn were in effect as follows: 



It would seem from these experiments that molasses, although much relished by 

 stock, can not satisfactorily take the place of roots in a fattening ration. Further 

 experiments, however, are desirable to determine whether equally good results 

 might not be obtained from molasses as from roots if the bulk given in each case 

 were the same. Molasses, however, may serve a useful purpose in the wintering of 

 young stock when roots are scarce. 



It does not seem that gluten feed possesses feeding properties equal to a mixture of 

 undecorticated cotton cake and barley meal. 



As better results were obtained from sliced than from pulped roots, it would seem 

 that the extra trouble involved in the case of the latter is not warranted. 



Experiments with gluten feed, J. Hexdrick {Trims. Highland and Agr. Soc. 

 Scotland, 5. ser., 17 {1905), pp. 1-19).— In a test made with 3 lots of 10 steers each 

 gluten feed was compared with a mixture of gluten feed, feeding cake, and oats, and 

 a mixture of the cake and oats, all the lots receiving Swedish turnips and oat straw 

 in addition to grain. 



In 90 days the average daily gain on the gluten feed ration was 2.2r> lbs. per head, 

 on the mixed ration containing gluten feed 2 lbs., and on the mixed ration without 

 gluten feed 1.8 lbs. As shown by the results of the block test the percentage of 

 dressed weight did not vary materially in the 3 lots. Analyses of the feeding stuffs 

 used are reported. Four other feeding tests with steers which compared gluten meal 

 with crushed oats, cotten-seed cake, or oil cake are also briefly noted, as well as some 

 studies with pigs and dairy cows. 



From the investigation as a whole the author notes that for steers gluten feed com- 

 pares favorably with bruised oats, mixed cake and oats, mixed cotton-seed cake or 

 oil cake, and discusses the best methods of feeding it for pigs. The conclusion was 

 reached that "gluten feed used alone is not a suitable food on which to fatten pigs. 

 It tends to make them costive. When mixed with some more open food it is greatly 

 improved, fattens pigs about as well and as rapidly as barley meal similarly mixed, 



30858— No. 11—05 6 



