468 EXPERIMENT STATION EECORD. 



"A comparison of the carcasses of the calves aud o-year-ol<ls . . . shows 

 that not only was the covering of fat greater on the 3-year-olds, but the fat 

 was more abundant throughout the carcasses and better distributed through 

 the lean. The cuts of the older steers were relatively thicker than correspond- 

 ing cuts' from the calves, and were more finished and plump in appearance. 

 The meat of the older steers was firmer and of better quality, but except for 

 individual variations there was no marked difference in color." 



A separation of the bone, lean, and vi.sible fat showed that, in general, the 

 relative amount of fat increases with the age of the steer, and that the lean is 

 correspondingly low^er. Chemical analyses confirmed these observations. The 

 cuts from the 3-year-olds contained approximately twice as much fat as the 

 corresponding cuts from the calves, but the increase in the fat content of the 

 loin and rib cuts of the older steers appears relatively greater than in the round 

 and shoulder cuts. 



Beef cattle production and cooperative breeders' organizations. It. S. Cur- 

 tis, K. C. Ikeler, and J. T^ Kkown (North Varnlina Hta. Circ. 22 (I'JL'f), pp. 

 3-20, figs. 12). — This circular treats of the improvement of the beef herd, and 

 discusses the origin, purpose, and method of organization of cooperative 

 breeders' organizations. 



[Sheep feeding experiments], A. D. Faville (Wi)Oiumg .S7r/. Bid. 103, pp. 

 0-7). — Five lots of 24 grade Kambouillet lambs each, weighing approximately 

 44 lbs. each, were fed 110 days, beginning November 20. as follows: Lot 1 

 whole corn, lot 2 dry whole barley, lot 3 soaked whole barley, lot 4 cracked 

 barley, lot 5 barley meal, all the lots receiving alfalfa hay. They made 0.36, 

 0.34, 0.33, 0.32, and 0.33 lb. average daily gain per lamb for the res]iectlve 

 lots. T'he average daily ration per lamb was 2.7 lbs. alfalfa hay and 0.72 

 lb. grain. It is estimated that it required 7 per cent less grain and 6i i>er 

 cent less alfalfa for 100 lbs. gain when corn replaced barley iu a ration. 

 Whole dry barley proved fully as satisfactory as did soaked, cracked, or ground 

 barley. 



Experiments in winter lamb production, J. W. Hammond (Ohio St a. Bui. 

 210 (191Jf), pp. 199-22S, figs. 3).— Two lots of 12 Delaine ewes each, with their 

 October or November lambs from a Southdown ram. as nearly alike as iwssible 

 witli regard to age, weight, conformation, and breeding, w^ere fed for 62 days, 

 beginning December 19, as follows : Lot 1, corn and oil meal 4 : 1. alfalfa, and 

 silage; lot 2, corn, oats, bran, and oil meal 5:2:2:1, alfalfa, and silage. 

 The nutritive ratio of the two rations was approximately the same. The 

 hay and silage were fed ad libitum and approximately the same amount of 

 grain was fed, it being all that they w-ould consume. The lambs were fed 

 alike, receiving com and alfalfa. The ewes of lot 1 made an average daily 

 gain per head of 0.095 lb., those of lot 2. 0.129 lb.; the lambs of lot 1, 0.441 lb., 

 and of lot 2, 0.411 lb. The cost of feed per pound of gain made by the lambs 

 was 7.1 and 7.5 cts., respectively. No appreciable differences in degree of 

 finish from the two rations were noted. Both lots produced prime hothouse 

 lambs. 



Two lots of 11 ewes each, with their lambs, were fed for 95 days, beginning 

 December 24, the same ration as in the above experiment, except that during 

 the last five weeks clover hay was substituted for the alfalfa. As these lambs 

 were not intended for hothouse lambs they were not forced so rapidly as 

 those in the first experiment. The average daily gain per head of the ewes 

 of lot 1 was 0.013, of lot 2, —0.031 lb. ; for the lambs of lot 1, 0.377 lb., of lot 2, 

 333 lb. The cost of feed per pound of gain made by the lambs was for lot 1, 

 8.7 cts. and for lot 2, 10.1 cts. 



