176 



EXPERIMENT STATION EECOED. 



velvet beaus, cowpeas, Kafir beans {Yigna catjang var.), peanuts, and flax. 

 Other crops which are suitable for providing winter feed are pumpkins, pota- 

 toes, rape, and cassava. The pasture grasses recommended are Pu^ixiUnn 

 dilataUim. Dactylis glomerata, tall fescue, Yorkshire fog (Holcus lanatiis), 

 burnet {Sauguisorlja minor), and cow grass clover {Thfoliiim pratcnse 

 perennc). 



Steer feeding: Small grains and clover hay for two-year-old steers, R. W. 

 Clark {Montana Hta. Bid. 78, i>i). 3d-Ji8).—X report of work carried on for 5 

 years to compare the effect of small versus large quantities of gi-ain for steers. 



In 1906-7 the feed consisted of clover hay and a grain mixture of barley, 

 oats, and wheat. During the first period doubling the grain doubled the gain, 

 while in the second period trebling the amount of grain increased the gain 

 only 30 per cent. The cost of production decreased with the increase of grain 

 in the first period when a small amount of grain was fed, but increased in the 

 second period. When a large amount of grain was fed, trebling the amount of 

 the gi-ain ration more than dbubled the cost of production. 



The results in 1907-8 also showed that up to about 7 lbs. of grain per head 

 per day the gain was proportional to the grain fed, but these results were due 

 in part to the fact that the hay was of poor quality. During the 5 years the 

 cheapest and largest daily gain was made during the first 2 years, this being 

 due to the most perfectly cured hay. The average results of the 5 years are 

 summarized in the following table : 



Average remilts from feeding different amounts of grain to steers. 



Ration. 



3 pounds grain per .steer per day. 

 h pounds grain per steer per day. 

 7 pounds grain per steer per day. 

 10 pounds grain per steer i>er day 



Cost of 1 

 lb. gain. 



Cents. 

 7.64 

 7.77 

 9. 20 

 10.14 



In comi)uting the cost, grain was rated at $1 per hundredweight and hay at 

 $6 per ton. There was a small profit every year except one on the steers fed, 

 but the main advantage was in finding a market for the feed at reasonably 

 good prices. There would have been no profit in feeding during the winter of 

 1907-8 if the feed had had to be purchased. " With well-cured clover hay the 

 cost of gain is about one-half of that secured from poorly cured hay, if price of 

 each is the same." 



The buffalo, A. Stazi {Bol. Quind. Soc. Agr. ItaJ., 15 (1910), Nos. Ji, pp. 106- 

 111; 5, pp. UfS-lJiO). — A statistical and general account of the buffalo and its 

 value for agricultural purposes in Italy, where it seems to be appreciated as the 

 number has increased considerably during the past 20 years. 



Fattening Iambs, J. W. Wilson (South Dakota t^ta. Bui. 119, pp. 6-'i5-651). — 

 In 1908, 20 grade lambs 8 to 10 montiis of age were divided into 2 lots to com- 

 pare the value of alfalfa and prairie hay. The grain ration consisted of oats, 

 corn, and linseed meal in the proportion of 4:4:1. The lots were started on 

 1 lb. per head per day of this mixture, and this was increased until they were 

 receiving 2.2 lbs, of gi^ain daily. For every pound of gi'ain fed the lambs in the 

 alfalfa lot they consumed 1..3 lbs. of hay and made an average daily gain of 

 0,51 lb. per head, at a cost of 4.2 cts. per pound. For each pound of grain fed 



