ANIMAL PRODUCTION. 173 



methods of handling steers were studied. The steers in h)t 1 were not dehorned and 

 were tied in stalls, each animal having 56 sq. ft. floor space. Lots 2 and 3 were 

 dehorned and were kept loose, havinj^ 84 and 38 sq. ft. of floor space per steer, 

 respectively. The average live weight of the steers at the beginning was not far 

 from 1,200 lbs. and all were fed meal, silage, roots and hay for 186 days. Lot 1 (tied 

 up) made an average daily gain of 1.65 lbs. per head at a cost of 6.22 cts. per lb. Lot 

 2 ( large space) gained 1.77 lbs. at a cost of 6.02 cts. per head, and lot 3 (smaller space) 

 gained 1.86 lbs. at a cost of 5.41 cts. per lb. 



The influence of the age on the cost of beef production was tested with 3-year-olds, 

 2-year-olds, yearlings, and calves, the first 3 lots containing 9 animals each and the 

 la.'it 5. During the trial (180 days for the calves and 186 days for the others) all the 

 animals were fed meal, silage, roots, and hay. The 3-year-olds made an average 

 daily gain of 1.65 lbs. each at a cost of 6.22 cts. per lb. The 2-year-olds gained 1.67 

 lbs. at 5.7 cts., the yearlings 1.85 lbs. at 4.65 cts., and the calves 2.14 lbs. at 3.6 cts. 

 per 11). "In daily gain and cost of production there is a quite remarkaljle gradation 

 in favor of the younger classes." 



Under practically the same conditions as in earlier work (E. 8. R., 14, p. 178) the 

 relative merits of light and heavy rations were tested with 2 lots of 5 yearlings each, 

 averaging 443 and 405 lbs., respectively, and 2 lots of 6 calves each, averaging 111 

 and 113 lbs. each. In 1 year the yearlings fed the heavy ration made an average 

 daily gain of 1.76 lbs. at an average cost of 4.33 cts. per lb., and those fed the light 

 ration 1.15 lbs. at 3.37 cts. In 200 days the calves on the heavy ration gained on an 

 average 1.45 lbs. per head per day at a cost of 3.7 cts. per lb. and those on the light 

 ration 1.33 lbs. at 2.96 cts. per lb. 



Flesli and fat in beef, I). H. Otis [Kansas Stu. Bui 118, jjp. 185-2 l:i,fiys. 17).— 

 For the purposes of class demonstration a large fat steer 38 months old weighing 1,790 

 lbs., a prime steer 24 months old Aveighing 1,240 lbs., a poor thin cow of the sort 

 known as a "canner" weighing 975 lbs., a "baby beef" heifer weighing 775 lbs., 

 and a mature grade bull were Judged by an expert. All but the latter were slaugh- 

 tered and cut uji, the dressed weight ranging from 41 per cent in the case of the thin 

 cow to 66.5 i^er cent of the live weight in the case of the large fat steer. The tallow 

 of the latter constituted 6.7 per cent of the carcass and that of the prime steer 5.5 per 

 cent. The various cuts from the different animals were compared and discussed at 

 length, a veal calf being included in this part of the work to make the comparison 

 more complete. The fat on both of the steers was pronounced of fine quality and 

 not tallowy. Baby beef loin was free from waste fat and while not as juicy and pos- 

 sil)ly lacking the flavor of the 2 steers, the meat was tender and everj^ portion of 

 the carcass could be used. The cooked meat prejjared in several ways was judged 

 ])y a number of persons, the fat steer, the prime steer, and the baby beef ranging as 

 regards flavor in the order mentioned when broiled or roasted. When boiled the 

 baby beef ranked first, the prime steer second, and the fat steer third. " However, 

 each sample if served upon the home table would be classed as exc-eilent." The 

 samples of boiled and roasted meat were weighed before and after cooking, but the 

 data ol)tained are considered insufficient for general deductions. 



Division of animal nutrition, H. P. Aemsby (Pennsylvania Sta. li})t. 1902, pp. 

 280,281). — Brief statements are made regarding the work of the past year which 

 had to do with the construction and calibration of the respiration calorimeter 

 designed for experiments with animals, which has been built in coo]ieration with 

 the Bureau of Animal Industry of this Dei^artment. The author notes that in a 

 check experiment in which 729.9 cc. of alcohol was burned in the respiration cham- 

 ber, the carbon dioxid and heat measured agreed very closely with the theoretical 

 amounts. It is calculated that this quantity of alcohol would furnish 1,023.19 gm. 

 carbon dioxid and 3,844 calories of energy. The amounts measured by the calorim- 

 eter were 1,023.60 gm. carbon dioxid and 3,829 calories. 



