970 



EXPERIMENT STATION RECORD. 



experiments reported was to study the iiiHuences of the various factors which 

 determine the protits from feedinj; heef cattle. The work extended over a period 

 of 2 winters and has involved the use of 212 cattle. In calculating the cost of 

 gain the value of the different fei^ls has l>een estimated at the foll(»wing prices: 

 Shelletl corn 40 cts. per bushel, cotton-seed meal $28 per ton, and corn silage 

 $2.50 per ton. In estimating the profit the value of the pork produced from hogs 

 following the cattle is included. 



The first series of experiments was to determine the influence of age on 

 economy and protit in fattening cattle. A ration of shelled corn, cotton-sewl 

 meal, clover hay, and corn silage was fed to calves, yearlings, and 2-year-olds, 

 with the results as shown in the following table: 



Influence of age on eewioniy (Uid profit hi fattening steers in winter. 



Animals fed. 



Initial 



Year. Icost per 



I pound. 



19 calves i 1906-7 



10 yearlings do ..j 



10 2-veHr-f)lds .do.. 



20 calves : 1907-8 | 



10 yearlings .do . . ■ 



2-years-olds • •. ' . .do . . ! 



4.50 

 4.15 

 4.2.5 

 4.50 

 4.15 

 4.00 



I Aver- 



Initial ' age 



weight. I daily 



I gain. 



Lbs. 

 508.8 

 922.0 



1,010.8 

 534.0 

 853.6 



1, 123. 5 



Us. 

 2.08 

 2.38 

 2.57 

 1.88 

 2.21 

 2.65 



Final 

 weight. 



Profit 



per 



animal. 



Us. 



883.0 

 1,351.6 

 1, 474. 5 



872. 5 

 1,252.1 

 1,602.1 



8('..13 

 9. 24 



10.04 

 9.01 



13.80 



22.68 



"The amount of feed consumed and the daily gain per steer increases with 

 the age of the cattle." 



" The amount of feed requin-d to jirodnce a pound of gain on calves was much 

 less than with older cattle." 



Two experiments were made with 2-year-old steers similar to those of the 

 previous experiment to determine the feeding value of corn silage when fed with 

 shelled corn and clover hay. In 1006-7 the experiment lasted 180 days. Ten 

 steers fed shelled corn and clover hay made an average daily gain of 2.01 lbs., 

 at a cost of 8.50 cts. i)er jionnd, and a similar lot receiving shelled corn, clover 

 hay, and corn silage made a corresponding gain of 1.85 lbs., at a cost of 8.31 cts. 

 per pound. In 1007-8 the experiment was repeated, lasting 1.50 days, when the 

 steers fed the corn and clover ration made a gain of 1.9 lbs., at a cost of 

 0.13 cts. per pound, and those fed the corn, clover, and silage ration made a gain 

 of 1.8 lbs., at a cost of 0.3 cts. per pound. 



" In the financial statements of the two lots fed in 1006-7 it will be seen that 

 the profit per steer was pi-actically the same whether fed on corn and clover or 

 on corn, clover, and silage. . . . The financial statements for the year 1907-8 

 show a profit of .$18.41 in favor of the lot fed silage." 



A second experiment was conducted to determine the value of a ration com- 

 posed of shelled corn, cotton-seed meal, clover hay, and corn silage as com- 

 pared with a similar ration without the silage. The initial value of these cattle 

 was $4 per hundred in both lots. The initial weight was 1,123 lbs. in the silage- 

 fed lot and 1.1.30 lbs. per steer in the lot fed no silage. At the end of the six 

 months period, the lot receiving silage averaged 1.602 lbs., while that receiving 

 no silage weighed 1,570 lbs. The 10 steers which received silage made an 

 average daily gain of 2.66 lbs., at a cost of 7.91 cts. per pound. Those not 

 receiving silage made an average daily gain of 2.44 lbs., at a cost of 8.75 cts. 

 per pound. 



The results indicate that corn silage may profitably be made a portion of the 

 ration for finishing cattle. 



