462 EXPERIMENT STATION" EECORD. 



In iiu eflort to arrive a1 ii ration lor wintering a horse at low cost, a gelding 

 and a mare were fed 1 11). of liay from mixed grasses, 1 lb. of straw, and 1 lb. 

 of swedes per day foi- each Ui(> lbs. of live weight, with very favorable ro.sults. 

 The bulky ration and the roots had a very beneficial effect on the digestive 

 tract of the animals. 



Three lots of 12 2 to 3 year old steers each were fed the same feeds, consisting 

 of a grain mixture of wheat, oats, and barley 1:2:2. Lot 1 was fed in the 

 barn in box stalls, which were kept well bedded and cleaned at regular inter- 

 vals. They were not let out at all except once each month for the purpose of 

 being weighed. They had water twice a day, though it was before them prac- 

 tically throughout the day. They were fed straw in their mangers as well as 

 green feed and hay during the last three weeks of the feeding perio<l, as were 

 also the other two lots. TiOt 2 was fed in the corral, having but a very limited 

 run, being confined near the l)uiklings. These steers had water before them at all 

 times and were fed their roughage in the feeding racks about the corral. They 

 got their straw at the straw stack. The water in the tank was kept free from 

 ice by the use of a tank heater. Lot 3 was fed in the bluff toward the western 

 boundary of the farm ; they were at liberty to run free practically over a half- 

 sod ion of land with access to the straw stacks and were fed green feed on the 

 ground. They watered at a small lake through the ice. 



The labor required to attend to the thi'ee lots for 100 days was 2G1 hours 30 

 minutes, G4 hours 1.5 minutes, and 58 hours, respectively. Lot 1 made an aver- 

 age daily gain i)er head of 1.03 lbs., lot 2 1.79 lbs., and lot 3 1.34 lbs., the aver- 

 age profits per head being $10.95, $14.05, and $10.15 for the re.spective lots. 



From experiments conducted with Shorthorn, Angus, Galloway, Hereford, 

 and mixed breeds of beef cattle, it is concluded that the stall-feeding of young 

 steers during summer months is too expensive. This was shown during the 

 heat of July and again during the first of September, when all steers lost weight. 

 Long feeding of steers with present high prices for grain, and particularly in 

 the absence of pasture and alfalfa hay, leaves but a small margin of jn'ofit. 

 The best breil steers of most uniform size and quality almost invariably gave 

 the greatest profit over the value of foodstuff consumed, and at the same time 

 commanded the best market price. 



A number of steers and heifers were fed to demonstrate possible profits from 

 short-keep steers or heifers of good or of poor flesh. They received a grain 

 mixlure of ground oats, ground barley, ground peas, and bran, 1:1:1:3, to- 

 gether with roots, silage, and mixed clover and timothy hay. From thes^ ex- 

 pei'imenls it was concluded that there is a good margin of profit in feeding 

 Steers when the feeding period is not extended over too great a time; that the 

 tyije of steer connnonly found in Canada, although more of dairy than of beef 

 conformation, may be profitably finished on stall-feeding on a short keep ; and 

 that finished steers will continue to make gains, but at a nuich smaller margin 

 of i)rofit than formerly. 



Three lots of 15 steers each were fed a grain ration of crushed oats, barley, 

 bran, cotton-seed meal, and oil cake. 2:2:4:2:1, lot receiving 40 lbs. of roots 

 and good hay, lot 2 80 lbs. roots and poor hay, lot 3 SO lbs. of roots and poor 

 hay, and lots 1 and 2 being tied and lot 3 loose. From these experiments it is 

 conclude<i that half the roots may be dispensed with when good hay is available 

 and yet the same daily gain per steer be maintained. When the finishing 

 period is of short duration then the high-quality foodstuffs and the narrower 

 ration containing the higher percentage of dry matter, give greater profits. 

 Steers in loose box stalls made greater and more economical gains than those 

 tied. 



