ANIMAL PRODUCTION. 373 



as rapid gains as those fed alfalfa bay, aud the gains were made more economic- 

 ally either from the standpoint of feed cousnmed or Jinancial cost. 



Corn silage and alfalfa hay for beef production, II. K. Bliss and C. B. Lke 

 (Nebraska Sta. But. 151 (1915), pp. 4-3, figs. 16).— Six lots of seven or eight 

 2-year-old steers each were fed 157 days, as follows: Lot 1, ground corn, cotton- 

 seed cake, and prairie hay ; lot 2, ground corn, corn silage, and cotton-seed cake; 

 lot 3, ground corn, com silage, and prairie hay ; lot 4, gronnd corn, a heavy feed 

 of corn silage, and alfalfa hay ; lot 5, ground corn, a medium feed of corn silage, 

 and alfalfa hay ; and lot 6, corn and alfalfa hay. These steers made average daily 

 gains per steer of 1.93, 2.01, 1.75, 2.24, 2.04, and 2.29 lbs., costing 9.51, 9.29, 9.08, 

 7.79, 8.31, and 7.22 cts. per pound of gain. The net profit per steer was $9.42, 

 $7.31, $8.93, $14.50, $13.47. aud $20.59 for the respective lots. The average 

 shrinkage in marketing was estimated to be 27, 44, 17, 30, 30, and 8 lbs. per 

 steer, and the dressing percentages 61.65, 61.28, 60.52, 60.94, 61.52, aud 60.71 

 for the respective lots. 



In a second experiment eight lots of from six to eight 2-year-old steers each 

 were fed 154 days, as follows : Lot 1, ground corn and alfalfa hay ; lot 2, ground 

 corn, alfalfa hay, and wheat straw ; lot 3, ground corn, alfalfa hay, and a light 

 feed of silage ; lot 4, ground corn, a medium feed of silage, and alfalfa hay ; lot 

 5. ground corn, a heavy feed of silage, and alfalfa hay; lot 6, ground com, 

 alfalfa hay, and a heavy feed of silage at the beginning, which gradually de- 

 creased to a light feed at the close of the feeding period; lot 7, ground com, 

 alfalfa hay, a medium feed of silage, and cotton-seed cake ; lot 8, ground corn, a 

 heavy feed of silage, cotton-seed cake, and alfalfa hay during the first five weeks. 

 These steers made average daily gains per steer of 2.1, 1.86, 2.1, 2.1, 2.1, 2.07, 2.05, 

 and 2.07 lbs., costing 10.82, 12.23, 11.31, 11.77, 11.74, 11.49, 12.04, and 12.76 cts. 

 per pound of gain. The net profit per steer was — 15 cts., — $4.22, 42 cts., 

 —$4.11, —$2.35, —$3.42, — $5.89, and —$6.30 for the respective lots. 



The results of the two experiments are summarized as follows: "A ration of 

 corn and alfalfa hay produced the cheapest gains of any ration used. Further- 

 more, the steers fed corn and alfalfa hay made as rapid gains as did the steers 

 on any other ration. Had the alfalfa hay used in the first experiment cost $20 

 per ton, the average profit on the three lots receiving alfalfa would have been 

 15 per cent greater than the profit on the best one of the three lots not re- 

 ceiving alfalfa. Cold pressed cotton-seed cake did not give as good results, as 

 regards either rate of gain or economy of gain, as did alfalfa hay in a ration for 

 fattening steers. The addition of cold pressed cotton-seed cake to a ration of 

 corn, silage, and alfalfa increased the cost of gain and lowered the profits on 

 the steers. The steers receiving silage without exception shed their coats early 

 In the spring and at all times presented a sleek and sappy appearance. Con- 

 trary to preceding experiments, a heavy feed of silage with alfalfa hay and 

 corn gave as rapid gains as did either a medium or a light feed of silage with 

 alfalfa hay and corn. The amount of silage which can best be fed to fattening 

 steers apparently must be regarded as unsettled. The steers fed silage in con- 

 nection with corn and alfalfa suffered a very slight shrinkage when shipped to 

 market. Different amounts of silage seemingly had no effect upon the number 

 of pounds shrinkage. Where prairie hay was used in place of alfalfa, small 

 and expensive gains resulted. 



" The individuality of a steer is a very important factor in the rate of gain. 

 The average difference in gains made between the highest and lowest producing 

 steer in each of the 14 different lots was 120 lbs. In practically all cases there 

 was a greater variation in the daily gains made by steers in the same lot than 

 there was in the average daily gains of the different lots. Usually a considerable 



