866 EXPERIMENT STATION RECORD. 



ratus for the utilization of blood and other slaughterhouse offal as food for live 

 stock is described. 



The breeds of live stock, C. W. Gay {Neic York: The Macmillan Co., 1916, 

 pp. xyiII+483, pis. 16, figs. 99). — This book, which is one of the Rural Text- 

 book Series, treats of the various breeds of horses, cattle, sheep, goats, and 

 swine. 



Steer feeding, J. C. Bubns {Texas Sta. Bui. 182 {1915), pp. 3-16, pis. 6).— 

 Five lots of 12 2-year-old Hereford steers were fed for 140 days the following 

 daily rations per head : For the first 90 days, lot 1, 4.72 lbs. of cotton-seed meal 

 and 48.52 lbs. of corn silage; lot 2, 9.4.5 lbs. of cold pressed cotton seed and 

 41.46 lbs. of corn silage; lot 3, 4.72 lbs. of cotton-seed meal, 35.23 lbs. of corn 

 silage, and 6.86 lbs. of rice bran ; lot 4, 4.72 lbs. of cotton-seed meal. 35.08 lbs. 

 of corn silage, and 9.1 lbs. of ground railo-maize heads ; and lot 5, 4.72 lbs. of 

 cotton-seed meal and 48.52 lbs. of corn silage ; and during the last .50 days, lot 1, 

 6 lbs. of cotton-seed meal and 50 lbs. of sorghum silage; lot 2, 12 lbs. of cold 

 pressed cotton soeil and 30.16 lbs. of sorghum silage; lot 3, 6 lbs. of cotton-.seed 

 meal, 34.66 lbs. of sorghum silage, and 7.-56 lbs. of rice bran ; lot 4, 6 lbs. of 

 cotton-seed meal, 32 lbs. of sorghum silage, and 12 lbs. of ground milo-maize 

 heads; and lot 5, 6 lbs. of cotton-seed meal and 50 lbs. of sorghum .silage. 



These steers made, for the entire period of 140 days, average daily gains per 

 head of 1.94, 2.15, 2.27, 2.44. and 2.07 lbs., at a cast for fee<l of 7..52, 8.3, 8.09, 9.2, 

 and 7.05 rts. per pound of gain for the respective lots. The average net shrink- 

 age in .shipping was 7.6. 5.3, 5.65, 5.53, and 7.16 per cent for the respective lots, 

 while the dressing percentages wore 56.89, 57.05, .58.04, 58.46, and 56.55. The 

 net profits per steer were .$1.24, .$1.90, $3.44, $0.34, and $1.18 for the respec- 

 tive lots. 



Hogs were placed in several of the ix'iis. l)ut llie results indicate that there is 

 danger of loss in having them follow cattle that are receiving full rations of 

 cotton-seed meal. Previous tests indicate, however, that they may follow, with 

 a fair degree of safety, cattle that are receiving only enoiigh cotton-seed meal 

 (from 3 to 4 lbs. for each 1,000 lbs. of live weight per day) to balance their 

 ration. 



It is stated that, based on the selling prices of 7..35 ct.s. per pound for lot 1 

 and 7.5 ct.s. for lot 2, cold pressed cotton seed could have cost .$23.90 a ton and 

 proved of equal value to cotton-seed meal at $28 a ton. Rice bran at $10.70 a 

 ton proved profital)le in supplementing cotton-seed meal and silage and was 

 more profitable for this purpo.se than ground milo-maize heads at .$20 a ton. In 

 fact, based on the selling prices of 7.65 cts. per pound for lot 3 and 7.75 cts. 

 for lot 4, rice bran could have cost $22.92 a ton and proved of equal value to 

 the ground milo-maize heads at $20 a ton. It was very evident that the milo- 

 maize heads, which contained about 75 per cent grain, were much more palatable 

 than the rice bran. When the latter is used it is deemed very important that 

 it be fresh and of good quality and that it be fed during the fall an<l winter 

 months. During warm weather it becomes rancid very quickly and in such 

 condition cattle do not relish it and it deteriorates in feeding value. 



Ba.sed on the final weight at Fort Worth, lot 5, that had had access to a 

 shed open on the south side, gained 23 lbs. a head more than lot 1, fed in a 

 similar pen without shelter, both having received the same kind and amoimt 

 of feed. Had lot 5 sold for 7.35 cts. per pound as did lot 1, there would have 

 been a difference in profit in its favor of $1.40 a head. 



The results of the experiment indicate that " without a greater margin or 

 spread between the prices for feeders and the prices for fat cattle than was 

 had in this case, there is practically no direct profit in feeding cattle with feetls 

 at the prices herein quoted." 



