864 



EXPERIMENT STATION RECORD, 



" There was no sudden decrease or increase in the nitrogen content of the 

 urine or feces when the animals were suddenly changed from one ration to the 

 other. This is evidence that the amid nitrogen was being used in the same way 

 as the true protein nitrogen. It is apparent from our data that full value, at 

 least for growth, can be given to the total nitrogen of alfalfa hay. The amid 

 nitrogen should not be considered, worthless. . . . With growing heifers there 

 was no very concordant rise in creatinin output with increased storage of 

 nitrogen. This i)i'eeludes the possibility of using this index for these animals as 

 a measure of the efficiency of a given source of nitrogen to produce nitrogen 

 storage." 



Steer feeding experiments, W. H. Tomhave and C. W. Hickman (Pennsyl- 

 vania Sta. Bui. 133 (1914), pp. 2^5-272, figs. 10).— Five lots of 12 two-year-old 

 steers, each weighing approximately 900 lbs. per head, were fed during two 

 periods of 56 and 84 days, respectively, with the following results : 



Summary of steer-feeding experimentn. 



o 56 days. 



6 28 days. 



It is concluded that " corn silage at $3.50 per ton is slightly more economical 

 when used as the sole roughage for steers, than a combination of mixed hay 

 and silag:e in which the silage is limited to 20 lbs. per head daily when hay. 

 co.sting $12 per ton, is freely fed. 



"A ration of mixed hay and corn stover as roughage, with broken ear corn, 

 or eorn-and-cob meal, and brands grain, when fed throughout the entire feed- 

 ing period, is not economical in Pennsylvania. The cattle fed this ration through 

 the entire feeding period produced 100 lbs. of gain at an average cost of 

 $12.97, while those receiving no grain during the first 56 days except cotton- 

 seed meal and what grain was present in the silage, made 100 lbs. of gain at 

 the average cost of $10.48. ^Yheat bran as a source of protein at $25 per ton is 

 nnich more expensive than cotton-seed meal at $84 ])er ton. The additional cost 

 of grinding corn is not repaid by greater gains from steers. 



"Alfalfa hay at $15 per ton, when fed at^ the rate of 5 lbs. per 1.000 lbs. live 

 weight, in combination with corn silage, is not so efficient as a source of pro- 

 tein as 21 lbs. of cotton-seed, meal per 1,000 lbs, live weight daily at $34 per 

 ton. The feeding of 5 lbs. of alfalfa hay with 24 lbs. of cotton-seed meal i>er 

 1,000 lbs. live weight daily as a source of protein in a ration of corn silage and 



