THIRTEENTH ANNUAL YEAR BOOK— PART IV 



139 



steers, for a period of 130 days, the gains were increased over the basal 

 ration from 2.31 to 3.15, the cost decreased from $6.97 to $6.89, the sell- 

 ing price increased from $6.10 to .$6.45, and the shrink decreased from 5.9 

 per cent to 5.4 per cent. What more could we ask of a supplement than 

 this; and yet just 2.7 pounds of this oil meal was fed daily per steer dur- 

 ing the entire feeding period. It was further found that $30.25 meal and 

 $25.50 cold pressed cake in the next year, when added to corn, clover and 

 silage, increased the gains from 2.65 to 2.85, increased the selling price 

 25 to 30 cents, and profit per steer $3 to $5. The judicious and intelligent 

 use of supplement along with corn and corn silage should increase the 

 profits from the silage feeding operations. This is true even though clover 

 or alfalfa are allowed in conjunction with a full feed of silage. The fat- 

 tening steer will not eat enough of these leguminous hays to balance the 

 ration from a practical dollars and cents standpoint 



Which protein concentrate is cheapest and best? That depends on 

 the roughage you are feeding it with, as well as upon the age of the cat-' 

 tie. We have known for a number of years that linseed oil meal was 

 especially adapted to calf feeding, or the making of baby beef, giving re- 

 sults wholly beyond our most sanguine expectations. A comparison of 

 cottonseed and linseed meal was made by the animal husbandry section 

 in the winter of 1909-1910, the calves being fed for a period of 203 days. 

 The basis of the ration was corn and cob meal, in conjunction with some 

 coarse over-ripe clover hay. These surprising results are given for your 

 consideration: 



COTTONSEED VS. LINSEED MEAJL. 



Calves (fourteen at 385 pounds), November 19, 1909, to June 10, 1910— 

 203 days. Animal Husbandry Section, Iowa Experiment Station. 

 Corn and cob meal, supplement, and clover hay.*** 



Daily gain, average 



Daily feed, average — 



Corn and cob meal . . 



Supplement 



Clover hay 



Feed for 100 pounds gain- 

 Corn and cob meal . . . 



Supplement 



Clover hay 



Cost of 100 pounds gain. . 



Selling price of "babies" 



Shrinkage, per cent 



Dressing, per cent 



*Corn and cob meal, 43 cents; cottonseed meal, $30; linseed, $30; hay, 

 $10. **Corn and cob meal, 53 cents; cottonseed, $30; linseed, $30; hay, $12. 

 ***Clover somewhat coarse, cut too ripe. Cottonseed meal, 46.85 per cent 

 protein; oil meal, 40.45 per cent. 



