ANIMAL PRODUCTION. 



773 



condition of the cattle has a much greater influence tlian their age over the cost 

 of gain. "Calves given a full feed of grain from November to May will make 

 more rapid and cheaper gains, attain a higher finish, sell at a higher price, and 

 return a greater profit if continued in dry lot than if turned on pasture for 

 finishing. B'ull fed calves when turned on grass shrink in weight the first 10 

 days and require from 2 to 3 weeks to regain their original weight. Steers in 

 dry lot consume a greater amount of concentrates than similar cattle on 

 pasture." 



In another experiment in finishing steers, a lot on shelled corn, cotton-seed 

 meal, clover hay, and silage made an average daily gain per head of 2.83 lbs. 

 for the first 4 months and 2.06 lbs. for the last 2 months. The corresponding 

 figures for a lot on shelled corn, clover hay, and silage were 1.97 lbs. and 1.56 

 lbs., with another lot on shelled corn, clover hay. shretlded stover, and oat straw 

 the gain was 1.75 lbs. per day per steer during the 4 months' period, but when 

 shredded stover and oat straw were replaced by cotton-seed meal and silage in 

 the last 2 months the average daily gain per head was 3.06 lbs., showing that 

 the results of the first ^months of feeding were due to the character of the 

 ration rather than to the individuality of the cattle. 



At the close of a winter feeding experiment 3 lots on different rations were 

 fed for 1 month a ration of shelled corn, cotton-seed meal, and clover hay. The 

 change in rations apparently increased the rate of gain 0.7 lb. per head daily, 

 in the lot which had previously received shelled corn, clover hay, and silage; 

 0.78 lb. in the lot fed shelled corn and clover hay ; and 0.74 lb. in the lot pre- 

 viously fed shelled corn and timothy hay. The cost of gains per pound was 

 decreased in the first lot 0.5 ct., in the second lot 0.9 ct., and in the third lot 0.65 

 ct. Two other similar trials also showed that nitrogenous concentrates during 

 the final month in finishing steers of good quality produced an additional profit. 



The methods of feeding, rate and cost of gains, and other data concerning 

 the short-fed cattle at the International Show of 1908 are also given. 



Sheep feeding experiments in Britain, H. Ingle {Trnnn. Highhtnd and Agr. 

 Soc. Scot., 5. scr., 22 {1910), pp. /78-2.T7, figs. 7). — A sunnnary is given of over 

 190 feeding trials made from 1844 to 1909. The following table gives a com- 

 parison of the results according to breed : 



Comparative gaiins of British breeds of sheep in feeding trials. lH.).'i-1909. 



Breed. 



Border Loicpsterx Blackface 



LeicestorX South Down 



Oxford X Hampshire Down.. 



Oxford Down 



Leicester 



Hampshire Down 



Cotswold 



Sussex 



South Down 



"Half-bred" 



"Three parts bred" 



Welsh Mountain 



.\verage 



Number 

 of lots. 



143 



Numl)or 

 of sheep. 



243 



80 



183 



60 



50 



2")1 



112 



40 



128 



90«i 



128 



110 



2,291 



Average 

 weekly 

 increase 

 per head 



Lbs. 

 2 18 

 2.17 

 2.58 

 2.75 

 2.09 

 2.88 

 2.41 

 2.03 

 2.01 

 2.13 

 1.91 

 0.79 



2.20 



Average 

 digestible 

 matter con- 

 sunuMl per 

 pound of 

 increase. 



Lbs. 

 5.62 

 6.34 

 6.44 

 6.55 

 a72 

 6.75 

 6.92 

 7.02 

 7.03 

 7.17 

 7.84 

 14.81 



7.24 



On the average, sheei) kei)t under cover increased 0.3 lb. per head per week 

 more than those fed in the open. Sheep fed rations in which linseed meal 



