AXIMAL PRODUCTION. 971 



Two tests were undertaken to determine the value of cotton-seed meal as a 

 supplement in fattening 2-year-old steers. In the first experiment, which lasted 

 ISO days, the basal ration consisted of shelled corn, clover hay. and corn silage. 

 With cotton-seed meal as a supplement the average daily gain of 10 steers was 

 2.5T lbs., at a cost of 7.59 cts. per pound. Without the cotton-seed meal supple- 

 ment the average daily gain of a similar lot was 1.85 lbs., at a cost of 8.31 cts. 

 per pound. 



" The addition of cotton-seed meal did not decrease the total amount of other 

 feeds consumed, but seemed to stimulate the appetite of the steers to such an 

 extent as to increase the daily feed consumed practically 3 lbs. per head." 



In the second test, lasting 150 days, with cotton-seed meal as a supplement, 

 the average daily gain was 2.7 lbs. at a cost of 7.83 cts. i)er pound. Without 

 the cotton-seed meal the average daily gain was l.S lbs., at a cost of 9.3 cts. 

 per pound. 



In another test lasting 150 days no silage was fed. With cotton-seed meal as 

 a supplement to corn and clover there was an average daily gain of 2.6 lbs., at a 

 cost of 8.3 cts. per pound. Without the cotton-seed meal the average daily 

 gain was 1.9 lbs. at a cost of 9.13 cts. per pound. 



In another experiment clover hay was comparetl with timothy hay as a 

 roughage. With the clover hay and shelled corn the average gain was 2.01 lbs., 

 at a cost of 8.5C cts. per pound. With the shelled corn and timothy hay the 

 average daily gain was 1.50 lbs., at a cost of 9.27 cts. per pound. 



"The results of these experiments showed a much greater protit from fatten- 

 ing cattle in the winter of 1907-8 than in that of 1906-7. 



"There is a marked difference in similar rations grown and fed in different 

 seasons. 



" High grade, blocky, early maturing beef calves showing both breeding and 

 quality, are necessary in making yearling beef. 



" Quality and type are not so essential in feeding aged steers as in feeding 

 calves, provided the purchase price is proportionate. . . . 



" The amount of pork produced from the droppings increases with the age of 

 the cattle. 



" When clover hay replaces timothy hay in the ration there is a greater 

 amount of pork produced." 



Steer feeding. Ill, Results of short v. long feeding periods, J. H. Skinner 

 and W. A. Cochel (Indiana »S7«. Bui. ISO, pp. 2,S /"-.i'V / i . — This bulletin reports 

 the progress made at the station the past 2 years in securing data as to the 

 rate and cost of gain, feed consumed, degree of finish obtained, and profits 

 secured from feeding cattle through a long period of 180 days as contrasted 

 with a short period of 90 days. 



In both series of experiments reported two lots of 10 steers each were fed 

 shelletl corn, cotton-seed meal, clover hay, and corn silage. The corn was valued 

 at 40 cts. per bushel. In the experiment in 1906-7, the Average daily gains per 

 head were for the long period 2..57 lbs., at a cost of 7.59 cts. i)er pound, and for 

 the short jieriod 3.16 lbs., at a cost of 6.9S cts. per i)ound. In 1907-8, the corre- 

 sijondiiig average daily gains of the long-fed steers wei-e 2.66 lbs. per head, at a 

 cost of 7.91 cts. per pound, and (jf the short-fed stiH'rs 2.85 lbs., at a cost of 7.83 

 cts. i>er pound. 



In the first test the total amotuif of corn necessary to finish each steer was 



34 bu. in the " short-fed " lot and 54.6 bu. in the " long-fed " lot ; in the second 



test 42.5 bu. and 61.1 bu., respectively. In the " short-fed " lot it was necessary 



to i)ut on 285 lbs. i)er head in the first test and 318 lbs. In the second test to 



82394— No. 10—09 6 



