276 EXPERIMENT STATION RECORD. 



The average weight of aged bulls was as follows : Shorthorn 2,297 lbs., Here- 

 ford 2,222 lbs., Angus 1.963 lbs., and Galloway 1,868 lbs. ; of aged cows, Short- 

 horn 1,820 lbs., Hereford 1,691 lbs., Angus 1,541 lbs., and Galloway 1,426 lbs. ; of 

 2-year-old steers. Shorthorn 1,617 lbs., Hereford 1,639 lbs., Angus 1,571 lbs., and 

 Galloway 1,437 lbs. Rating the Shorthorn figures at 100, the relative weight of 

 the other breeding stock was Hereford 96.2, Angus 89.9, and Galloway 82.9. 



The following conclusions are drawn : " In general, animals of the beef 

 breeds kept in high show condition reach half their final weight at something 

 over 400 days or about 13* months. They reach 75 per cent of their final weight 

 at an age of something over 750 days or about 25* months. Females approach 

 their final weight somewhat faster than do males but the greater weight of the 

 male is attained by greater daily gains being longer sustained than in the case 

 of the female. In comparing the rate of growth in weight in the different 

 breeds it will be seen that the Angus approaches its full weight more rapidly than 

 does the Shorthorn. This is true in both sexes. The Hereford figures corre- 

 spond closely to those of the Shorthorn in males and to those of the Angus in 

 females; in other words, the earlier maturity of the female as compared with 

 the male would appear to be accentuated in this bi'eed. The numbers of Gallo- 

 ways are small and the ages do not in general correspond closely to those of the 

 other breeds, so that the figures shown are less trustworthy. Contrary to expec- 

 tation they show that the Galloway approaches its full weight faster than the 

 Shorthorn and probably faster than the Hereford." 



On comi^aring these figures with the weights of show steers at the Smithfleld 

 Show it was found that the English steers were considerably heavier. This was 

 due in part to the tendency of the British feeders and breeders to show none 

 but the choicest animals and in part tp a difference in showyard ideals. 



Carrying range steers through the winter. Sugar beets for fattening 

 steers, W. L. Carlyle and G. E. Morton {Colorado Sta. Bui. I.!i9, pp. 3-15, 

 figs. 2). — Grade Hereford steers fed only during the third winter made an aver- 

 age gain of 235 lbs. per head during this time. The average weight when fin- 

 ished was 1,146 lbs. each, and they were valued at $5.75 per hundredweight. 

 Those fed the second and third winters gained 361 lbs. per head the third winter, 

 weighed 1,407 ll)s., and were value<l at .$6.20 i)er hundredweight. Steers fed 

 all 3 winters gained 223 lbs. per head the third winter. weighe<l 1,308 lbs. per 

 head, and were valued at $6.10 per hundredweight. 



Apparently when the aim in view was to finish the steers as 2-year-olds the 

 feed given to them as calves was wasted, but feeding them during the winter 

 tliey were yearlings ]nit them in shape to malve better gains the next winter. 

 The winter feeding of calves liastened the steers to maturity and consequently 

 lessened their power for gain each successive season. With equal gains the 

 calves put on their gain much more cheaply than yearlings, and the yearlings 

 made their gain at al)out two-thirds the cost of the gain made by the 2-year-olds. 

 " It seems more economic.-il to winter feed as calves and finish as yearlings than 

 to winter feed as yearlings and finish as 2-year-olds." In a steer fed only one 

 winter there was slightly more bone and lean meat in the rib roast than in a 

 steer fed 2 winters. 



In a feeding trial of 16 weeks a ration of corn and alfalfa hay produced an 

 average gain of 216 lbs. per head, at a cost of 6.23 cts. per pound. When lialf 

 of the corn ration was replaced by sugar beets the gains averaged 239 lbs. per 

 head, at a cost of 6..33 cts. per pound. Corn was rated at 1 ct. per pound, beets 

 $5 per ton, and hay $5 per ton. The results indicate that if corn costs more 

 or sugar beets less than these prices it would pay to substitute sugar beets for 

 half of the corn ration. 



