ANIMAL PKODUCTIOiSr. 171 



when fed with native hay, was practically equal in feeding value to 3 lbs. of 

 cold-pressed cake. Part 2 treats of an experiment with two lots of four beef 

 heifers each, fed 141 days, in which it was found that a ration of 4 1))S. of a 

 mixture of equal parts of corn meal and mill-run bran gave better gains than 

 did 2 lbs. of cotton-seed cake. The economy of gains depended upon the relative 

 cost of feeds. 



The maintenance of a beef-breeding herd, W. H. Tomiiave and B. O. Se\^b- 

 SON (Pcunsylvania Sta. Rpt. 1913, pp. 101-13J,, pis. ^).— This is a continuation 

 of work previously noted (E. S. R., 28, p. 266). 



In this experiment the two lots of ten cows each were wintered from Novem- 

 ber 15, 1912, to April 25, 1913, in an open slied and fed a ration composed of 

 corn silage and cotton-seed meal, corn silage being fed to meet the appetite of 

 the cows and cotton-seed meal at the rate of 1 lb. daily per cow. Lot 1 (Short- 

 horn cows) made a total gain during the period of 11.9 lbs. per head; lot 2 

 (Aberdeen-Angus cows), 36.6 lbs. per head. The two lots consumed the same 

 total amount of feed, approximately 9,600 lbs. of corn silage and 161 lbs. of 

 cotton-seed meal per head, which cost $19.32 per head. The cost of bedding was 

 estimated at $4.52, the labor cost in feeding $2.50, and the value of manure 

 $7.60 per head, making the net cost of wintering a cow $18.73. The average 

 daily gain made per head by the Shorthorn calves from these cows was 1.56 

 lbs. and by the Aberdeen-Angus calves 1.41 lbs., or an average of 1.47 lbs., which 

 cost, per pound of gain, 4.11 cts. 



Maintenance rations for breeding flocks of mutton and wool sheep, B. O. 

 Sevekson (Fennsylrania Sta. Rpt. 1912, pp. 11/9-177). — Four lots of 10 ewes 

 each, lots 1 and 2 being composed of Shropshires and lots 3 and 4 of Delaine- 

 Merinos, were fed for 20 weeks. Lots 1 and 3 received a roughage ration con- 

 sisting of corn silage supplemented with cotton-seed meal. The silage was fed 

 twice daily in accordance with appetite, while the cotton-seed meal was fed at 

 the rate of 1 lb. per 25 lbs. of silage. The grain mixture was composed of 

 shelled corn, oats, wheat bran, and linseed meal 5:3:2:1: This mixture was fed 

 at such times and in such amounts as were sufficient to keep the ewes in good 

 breeding condition. Lots 2 and 4 were fed a roughage ration composed of corn 

 silage fed in the evening and alfalfa fed in the morning. The amount of each 

 was governed by appetite. The grain mixture was similar to the mixture fed 

 lots 1 and 3. Analyses of the feeds are reported. 



It was noted that the lots receiving corn silage as the sole roughage made 

 greater gains for the entire period than those also receiving alfalfa. It appears 

 that corn silage with cotton-seed meal as a source of protein was as efficient as 

 corn silage with alfalfa hay as a source of protein. The average gains per head of 

 breeding ewes for the period were : 9.054, — 1.119, 11.546, and — 1.563 lbs. for the 

 respective lots. 



Comparing the lots fed silage and those fed alfalfa and silage, the greatest 

 losses during lambing time were with the latter. The Shropshires were affected 

 by more variation in weight than the Delaine-Merino lots. This is said to sub- 

 stantiate the old version that " Merino sheep, though not as easily placed in 

 high condition of flesh, will retain their condition with greater persistence than 

 mutton sheep." 



The air-dry matter consumed by lots 2 and 4 in the form of alfalfa hay re- 

 mained practically uniform and identical in both lots. A lesser amount of air- 

 dry matter was consumed by both lots in the form of corn silage than in the 

 form of alfalfa hay. In lot 2 the amount of air-dry matter in the corn silage con- 

 sumed gradually decreased with the advance of the feeding period. In lot 4 the 

 amount was practically constant, decreasing slightly with the advance of the 



18833°— No. 2—16 6 



