^70 EXPERIMENT STATION RECORD. 



Feeding stufiF inspection, C. D. Woods and J. M. Bartlett {Maine Sta. Bui. 71, 

 pp. 25-40) .—In accordance with the State law, the protein and fat were determined in 

 a large number of samples (collected in December, 1900) of cotton-seed meal,, gluten 

 meal, gluten feed, oil meal, cereal food by-products, and mixed feeds. 



Fattening steers of different types on clover, with and without grain, 

 R. S. Shaw {Montana Sta. Bui. 27, pp. 3-10). — To learn whether local farm products 

 can be profitably used in finishing range steers for market, to what extent it is profit- 

 able to use grain with clover in a fattening ration, and to compare the relative values 

 of typical beef animals as meat producers with those of the dairy type, a test was 

 made with 16 steers showing Shorthorn, Hereford, Angus, Jersey, and Holstein 

 blood. The steers were so divided that lot 2 contained 6 animals of good beef 

 type, showing only Shorthorn and Hereford blood; lot 3 contained 5 animals of the 

 dairy type, showing a mixture of Jersey, Holstein, Angus, and native blood, while 

 lot 1 contained the 5 animals remaining after the others were selected. Lot 1 was fed 

 clover only, while lots 2 and 3 were fed clover and barley. The steers weighed not 

 far from 1,200 lbs. each at the beginning of the test, which covered 71 days. The 

 average daily gain in the three lots was 1.73, 2.55, and 2.1 lbs. per head respectively; 

 the cost of food per pound of gain being 6.12, 4.84, and. 5.56 cents. The steers in lot 

 1 consumed on an average 35.3 lbs. of clover per head per day; those in lot 2, 25.5 

 lbs. clover and 7.9 lbs. barley; and those in lot 3, 21.6 lbs. clover and 8.6 lbs. barley. 

 The net profits on feeding the three lots were $20.78, $33.71, and $23.44, respectively. 



The steers were provided with temporary sheds and in the author's opinion this 

 form of shelter is satisfactory. Some of the other conclusions follow: 



"In our Montana valleys, where clover or alfalfa can be grown, these crops can 

 be profitably used in the production of beef in a finished form. And the quality of 

 these foods is such, owing to favorable conditions for the curing and storing of the 

 hays, that only a comparatively small amount of grain is needed along with them to 

 secure the best results. 



"Barley can be profitably used in conjunction with clover and alfalfa under our 

 State conditions. Only small quantities of grain are necessary to give maximum 

 results. The quantity need not exceed three-quarters of a pound of grain per day 

 for each hundred pounds of live weight. Any excess above this amount will not give 

 a proportionately greater gain and will materially increase the cost of production. . . . 



" In selecting steers to feed it is essential that only those of the beef type be used.*' 



Steer experiments, J. H. Grisdale {Canada E.ipt. Farms lipts. 1900, pp. 73-79). — 

 The gains made hy 3 lots of 9 steers each were studied. Lots 1 and 2 were dehorned; 

 lot 1 was tied and lot 2 was loose. The steers in lot 3 were not dehorned, but were 

 tied. All the steers weighed about 960 lbs. each at the beginning of the test. They 

 were feed roots, silage, straw, and grain. In 184 days the average daily gain per 

 steer in the 3 lots was 1.36, 1.30, and 1.49 lbs. respectively, the cost per poimd of 

 gain being 5.9, 6.5, and 6.2 cts. respectively. 



The comparative gains made by yearlings, two-year-olds, and three-year-olds were 

 tested with 2 lots of 9 animals each. Both lots were fed roots, silage, straw, and 

 grain, the test covering some 6 months. The yearlings averaged a daily gain of 1.11 

 lbs., at a cost of 5 cts. per lb. Corresponding values for the two-year-olds were 1.49 

 lbs. and 6.2 cts., and for the three-year-olds, 1.53 lbs. and 6.8 cts. 



A limited ration and a full fattening ration were compared with 2 lots of 5 steer 

 calves each. The limited ration consisted principally of skim milk, oats, shorts, 

 silage, and hay; the full ration, of skim milk, oats and corn, oil meal, bran, silage, 

 and hay. In the 28 weeks of the test the average daily gain per steer on the former 

 ration was 1.31 lbs., at a cost of 2.35 cts. per lb., and on the latter, 1.44 lbs., at a cost 

 of 2.32 cts. per pound. 



Steer feeding— dehorning, E. Robertson, S. A. Bedford, and A. Mackay 

 ( Canada E>pt. Farms Jlj>ts. 1900, pp. 303-308, 363-365, and 428-430).— Ai the Experi- 

 mental Farm for the Maritime Provinces the advantages of dehorning steers were 



