138 



IOWA DEPARTMENT OP AGRICULTURE 



Corn silage is not a complete food for fattening cattle, being espe- 

 cially deficient in muscle formers. We have to supply this deficiency by 

 buying protein concentrates, such as cottonseed meal, cold pressed cake, 

 linseed oil meal and others. Alfalfa and clover help somewhat, but are 

 not sufficient. To determine whether or not clover furnishes sufficient 

 protein to balance a ration of shelled corn and silage, we carried on a 

 practical feeding trial in 1910-1911. The advantage of feeding cotton- 

 seed meal is depicted in the more rapid and cheaper gains and in the 

 enhanced value of the carcass. 



SUPPLEMENT YOUR CaRN AXD SILAGE IT PAYS. 



Two-year-old steers of 1,000 pounds. 1910-1911 results. Animal Hus- 

 bandry Section, Iowa Experiment Station. 



90 Days Feed. 



Daily gain, average 



Daily feed, average — 



Shelled corn 



Cottonseed meal 



gilage 



Clover 



Cost of 100 pounds gain, 



Increased selling price, due to cottonseed meal, 10 to 25 cents. 



In this trial, corn was valued at 36 cents, cottonseed meal at $28, 

 clover at $10, and silage at $2.50. Cottonseed meal was added to the 

 the shelled corn-silage-clover lot during the last sixty days of a 150-day 

 period, but in spite of the comparatively higher finish Induced by the 

 meal, these cattle when put upon the market, sold for 20 cents a hun- 

 dred less than the steers receiving cottonseed meal during the entire 

 five months. These figures are somewhat striking. Ordinarily we ex- 

 pect the gains to be more rapid, and to cost less where cottonseed meal 

 is allowed. In addition, we get the added profit by increasing the total 

 gains and the finish upon the cattle. An enhanced value of 25 cents 

 a hundred pounds is equal to $3.50 on a 1,400-pound steer. One readily 

 sees that he does not have to enhance the value of the finished carcass 

 much to make quite a difference in the results. 



Having spent practically five years in Missouri, and three with the 

 experiment station. I can not refrain from giving you some of the re- 

 .cent results secured there by Professor Allison. Where $33 oil meal 

 Y/^fy added to 40-cent corn, $3.50 silage and $10 rloyer, to two-ye^voKl 



