EXPERIMENT STATION RECORD. 



steer.-- fed in a stall made an average gain of 130 lbs. at a cost of 10.7 cts. per pound. 

 The sia ers fed the mixed ration in a yard gained on an average 196 lbs. at a cost of 

 9.13 cts., and the similar lot fed the ration of cotton-seed products gained 146 lbs. at 

 a cost of 8.2 ets. 



The manure may be more readily saved when the steers are fed in stalls. Its esti- 

 mated value in the test reported was $80. 



Following are some of the authors' eonclusions: 



"The comparison between the stable versus open yard system while showing some 

 advantage in favor of the stable method really indicates that a combination of the 

 best features of both systems is preferable. This could be done by allowing the cat- 

 tle to run in large sheds with a solid tight floor which should be well bedded, and 

 the manure all saved. If desired, outside yards connected with these sheds could be 

 provided, so that the cattle could have some exercise and plenty of fresh air. One 

 of the secrets of successful cattle feeding is in making them as comfortable as possible. 



"Where cotton-seed meal and hulls can be purchased at a reasonable priee L they 

 prove to be very cheap feeds for fattening steers. No bad effects result from feeding 

 cotton-seed meal for such short periods as this, and it remains to be seen whether 

 any ration can be compounded exclusive of good silage, which can equal it as an 

 inexpensive feed. 



"Dairy farming has many points of superiority over beef raising, but to farmers 

 who are not close to a good market and are handicapped by lack of available and 

 steady labor, the breeding and feeding of cattle will offer many inducements. That 

 it is a profitable business in the South is shown by the low cost of raising cattle, 

 economy in producing suitable feeds, and the inexpensive buildings required. With 

 a good pure-bred beef sire, a herd of native cows, and plenty of pasture land, a 

 fanner may in 2 or 3 years' time develop a good grade beef herd, which will largely 

 increase his profits and maintain the fertility of the soil." 



Summary of swine feeding", 1904-5, G. E. Morton ( Wyoming Sta. Rpt. 1905, 

 pp. 44-47). — Many believe that corn is necessary for pork production, and a compari- 

 son of wheat and corn was made with 2 lots of 3 pigs each. In 11 weeks the total 

 gain on wheat was 342 lbs. and on corn 229 lbs. 



In a second test wheat and alfalfa hay with and without roots were studied with 2 

 lots of 2 pigs each. In 13 weeks the lot fed roots gained 183 lbs. and the lot with- 

 out roots 185 lbs. "Evidently the roots ted did no good in anyway; they were 

 simply an additional expense." 



Judging by both tests "straight wheat feeding gives the best gains of any of the 

 rations tabulated, but it also involves very heavy grain feeding [8 to 24 lbs. per day 

 at the end of the test] to get the gam." 



"An answer to the question whether this extra gain and less amount of concen- 

 trates is offset by the cost of the attalfa hay depends upon the comparative cost of 

 the feeds in a given locality." 



A sow weighing 341 lbs. was fed for 14 weeks beginning December 3, alfalfa hay 

 and roots only, consuming on an average 6 lbs. of the hay and 6 to 24 lbs. of the 

 roots per day. At the end of the period she had lost 7 lbs. 



Three sows fed corn, shorts, and altalfa hay gained 122 lbs. in 6 weeks. "The 

 gain shown ... is good and the sows were apparently put in good condition for 

 pigging I >y this ration. One sow gave birth to 7 living pigs and 1 dead pig; the other 

 gave birth to 5 living and 3 dead. Further experimentation will be required to 

 determine whether the ration was responsible for the stillbirths." 



Corn and shorts, corn and alfalfa hay, and wheat and corn each with alfalfa hay 

 chopped in swill were compared with 4 lots of 3 pigs each, averaging 65 lbs. each in 

 weight The gain on corn and shorts 1 :2 was 61 lbs., and on corn and alfalfa 1 :2, 19 

 lbs. On each of the rations made up of grain, alfalfa hay, and swill there was a loss 



