FOODS ANIMAL PRODUCTION. 



571 



Steer feeding experiment, III, C. 0. Georgeson, F. C. Burtis, 

 and D. H. Otis {Kansas Sta. Bui. 47, 2)p. 17-31). 



Synopsis. — A comparison of the gains of steers on dry and soaked corn and the gains 

 of pigs following these steers. The steers on soaked corn made a larger gain 

 and ate less corn than those on dry corn, but the pigs following the steers fed 

 dry corn made the larger and more economical gaiu. The steers on soaked corn 

 voided about 11 per cent of the corn uneaten, and those on whole corn about 

 16 per cent. 

 The expeiimeut was with 10 grade Shorthorn steers, 2| years old, 

 and lasted from November 7 to April 6. After a inelimiiiary trial the 

 steers were divided into 2 lots of eqnal weight and placed in separate 

 yards with a shed at the north side inclosed on 3 sides. The corn for 

 both lots was shelled, but that for lot 1 was soaked until it began to 

 soften, while that for lot 2 was fed dry. To avoid trouble from the 

 soaked corn freezing the grain was fed 5 times daily to both lots. The 

 amount of corn per lot was increased from 50 lbs. per day at first to 

 135 lbs., which was changed to 125 lbs., and later reduced to suit the 

 appetite. Both lots received the same coarse fodder, which was at dif- 

 ferent times corn fodder, oat straw, millet hay, and prairie hay. Eight 

 shoats of an average weight of 88 lbs. per head were placed with each 

 lot and fed what additional corn they required. 



The food eaten, gain in weight, and cost of food for the steers are 

 summarized in the table below, no account being taken of the cost of 

 soaking the corn. 



Food eaten and gains hy steers on dry and soaked corn. 



Lot 1, soaked corn 

 Lot 2, (iry corn 



Pood eaten by lot. 



Corn. 



Pounds. 

 '15.787.5 

 IC, 244. 5 



Coarse 

 fodder. 



Pounds. 



8, ::i40 



8,127 



Total 



cost of 

 food. 



$90. 61 

 92.57 



Gain in weight. 



Total for 

 lot. 



Pounds. 

 1,632 

 1,468 



Average 



per liead 



daily. 



Pounds. 

 2.18 

 1.96 



Cost of rood 



food per ! eaten per 



pound of r pound of 



gain. I gain. 



Cents. 

 5.55 

 6.30 



Pounds. 

 14.78 

 16.60 



'Dry weight. 



"Although lot 2 [dry corn] ate 457 lbs. of corn and 213 lbs. of fodder more than 

 lot 1, they, nevertheless, gained 161 lbs. less than lot 1, and the gain they did make 

 cost three-fourths, of a cent per pound more than the gain of lot 1. This differ- 

 ence, I think, can fairly be ascribed to the soaking of the corn fed to lot 1." 



The gains made by the pigs were as follows : 



Gains made hy pigs following steers and additional corn given them. 



