1074 EXPERIMENT STATION RECORD. 



productive value of a feeding stuff. Whether the food is rapidly assimi- 

 lated by the aid of the saliva and juices of the stomach, or whether 

 absorption is brought a})Out in the lower portion of the intestinal tract 

 l)V decomposition is a matter of great importance. 



Feeding steers, G. H. True {Ai'lzoaa Sta. Rpt. 1900, 2U^- 171-174^ 

 pL 1). — According to the author it is a generally accepted fact that 

 while cattle fatten rapidl}" on alfalfa, they can not be finished for mar- 

 ket on this feed alone so as to compare profitably with animals finished 

 on grain. Local feeders have reported favorable results on the use of 

 sorghum fodder as a supplement to alfalfa. The author tested the com- 

 parative value of cured corn fodder, Kafir corn fodder, and sorghum fod- 

 der as a supplement to alfalfa hay with 2 lots of 4 steers each. During 

 the first 5 weeks of the test lot 1 consumed 1,512 lbs. alfalfa and 1.2-17 

 lbs. corn fodder, and made an average daih' gain of 1.39 lbs., while 

 lot 2 (fed throughout the test alfalfa hay only) consumed a total of 

 2,92!) lbs. of alfalfa and made an average daily gain of 1.03 lbs. per 

 head daily. When Kafir corn fodder was substituted for corn fodder, 

 in the next 5 weeks of the test, lot 1 ate 1,575 lbs. alfalfa haj^ and 1,333 

 lbs. Kafir corn fodder, and gained on an average 1.68 lbs. per head 

 dailv. In the same time lot 2 consumed 2,853 lbs. alfalfa hay and 

 gained 1.65 lbs. per head daily. During the following 6 weeks, 

 sorghum fodder was substituted for Kafir corn, and lot 1 consiwiied 

 1,890 lbs. alfalfa hay and 1,814 lbs. of sorghum, and gained 1.65 lbs. 

 per head daily. Lot 2 consumed a total of 2,828 lbs. alfalfa and gained 

 1.67 lbs. per head daily. Considering the test as a whole the gains 

 made }^y the lot fed alfalfa haj^ and other forage was 711 lbs. as com- 

 pared with 652 lbs. on alfalfa ha}' alone, a difference which the author 

 regards as insufficient for definite conclusions. At the close of the 

 test the lots were rearranged so as to counterbalance the effect of 

 previous rations and each lot was pastured for 8 weeks on 2 acres of 

 alfalfa. Lot 1 was fed sorghiun fodder, and lot 2 alfalfa hay in addi- 

 tion. The average daily gain per steer in lot 1 Avas 1.63 lbs., and in 

 lot 2. 1.55 ll)s. 



Sheep feeding, (t. H. Trtjk {Arhona Sta. Rpf. 1900^ jy>. _/7J, 

 17G). — The comparative value of alfalfa hay and of sorghum fodder 

 alone, mixed, and supplemented l)y sugar beets was tested with 5 lots 

 of 8 sheep each. In 4 weeks lot 1, on a daily ration of -lO lbs. of 

 chopped sugar beets and 20 lbs. of alfalfa, gained on an average 0.259 

 lb. per head daih*. Lot 2, fed 40 lbs. sugar beets and 20 lbs. sorghum 

 fodder daily, made an average dail}' gain of 0.286 lb. per head. The 

 average daily ration of lot 3 was 40 lbs. alfalfa hay, and lot 4, 40 lbs. of 

 sorghum fodder, and of lot 5, 10 lbs. alfalfa hay and 30 lbs. of sorghum 

 fodder. The average daily gain per head in these 3 lots was 0.187, 

 0.125, and 0.232 lb., respectively. Although the author believes the 

 test insufficient for general deductions, the fact is pointed oi-.t that 



