488 IOWA DEPARTMENT OP AGRICULTURE 



•'babv beeves"' make economical gaixs. 



Data taken from the Animal Husbandry Section of the Iowa Experi- 

 ment Station shows that "baby beeves" made very economical gains. 



Three groups of fourteen 385-pound calves, each fed for 203 days, from 

 November 19, 1912, to June 10, 1913. (Figures based on home weights.) 



Ration Fed 



Average daily g-ain 



Average final weight 



Average daily feed — 



Corn and cob ineal 



Cottonseed meal 



Oil meal 



Clover hay 



Corn silage 



Peed for lOJ pounds of gain- 

 Corn and cob meal 



Cottonseed meal 



Oil meal 



Clover hay 



Corn silage 



Cost of lOO pounds of gain*. 



QUO' 



2.26 

 8i3 



31.03 

 l.St 



2.03 

 5.16 



90 

 229 



SO) 

 d 



2.18 

 S29 



13.40 

 1.S4 



2.05 



613 

 84 



94 

 $C.40t 



o o.« 



2.31 

 &54 



13.70 



1.84 

 2.04 



5W 



79 

 89 



$6.23t 



♦Corn at 53c; C. S. meal, $30.00; oil meal, $30.00; clover, $12.00; and silage, $3.25. 

 tProfit returned by hogs for each lOO pounds gain on steers is respectively $0.69, 

 .$0.68, and $0.63, which may be credited. 



The above data not only shows that the calves made economical gains 

 but also that there are some methods of feeding which are more profitable 

 than others. Corn silage seems to play a very prominent part in the 

 reduction of the cost of gains of all classes of cattle. It proved so in this 

 case. In feeding operations at this station, as well as others through 

 the corn belt states, linseed meal seems to have an advantage over cotton- 

 seed meal for feeding calves while for older cattle most results show as 

 good if not better results by the use of cottonseed meal. A ration for 

 calves composed of corn, oil process linseed meal, clover or alfalfa hay 

 and silage seems to be as satisfactory as any for making rapid as well 

 as economical gains on calves. At the Illinois Station last year the ad- 

 dition of oats to the ration of corn and alfalfa seemed to increase the 

 cost of gains. There is no doubt but what oats might play a very im- 

 portant part in the proper growth and development of young cattle for 

 breeding purposes. 



THE CARE OF THE BKEI'.DING HERD. 



If "baby beeves" are to be put onto the market at the earliest possible 

 date they must have had their mother's milk u]) to weaning time. In 

 order that this may be properly accomplished the mothers must have 

 been properly fed and cared for. This is a big item in actual cost of 

 production of the calf up to market time. Some men have figured that 



