('alf-rfurifi</ Eivperiment. 57 



As they became fit for the butcher the bullocks were 

 weighed and then sent off to be killed, a careful record being 

 kept of the food consumed up to the time of their slaughter. 

 Their carcass-weights were also recorded, and notes were made 

 ])y the l)utcher of any features of interest arising from the 

 examination of the carcasses. 



In Table I. are given the respective w^eights of each lot at 

 the diflferent dates upon which the bullocks were weighed, viz., 

 (1) April 16, 1912 (or April 23, or May 7) ; (2) June 18, 1912, 

 (or June 25, or July 9) ; (3) February 5, 1913 ; (4) November 

 G, 1913 ; (5) at date of slaughter (February to May, 1914). 



In Table II. are given the initial and final w^eights of each 

 individual bullock, with the average gain in live-weight of 

 each lot, and the price realised for each animal. 



In Table III. are given the gains per head for each lot over 

 the several periods, and in Table IV. the cost of feeding per head, 

 from the very commencement, including the preliminary three 

 weeks' feeding with whole milk, the special feeding with the 

 different foods (nine weeks), and the subsequent cost, inclusive 

 of grazing and feeding in the yards, up to the time of slaughter. 

 The original cost of the calf is added, and it is shown 

 what were the respective gains realised on the sale of the 

 bullocks. 



The results (page 5G) obtained at the end of the period of 

 special feeding (twelve weeks from the commencement) show that 

 up to that time crushed oats used with separated milk gave the 

 largest increase in live-weight, and this at the lowest cost per 

 lb. of gain. Tables I.-IV. give the subsequent history, and 

 show how far the influence exercised in the early period of 

 feeding was felt throughout the subsequent feeding, and also 

 how, when the total cost of feeding (until the animals came to 

 be slaughtered) was set against the cash return on the carcasses, 

 the account stood. 



As remarked before, the animals as a whole remained in 

 excellent health. Two only of the original twenty were not 

 carried on throughout the entire experiment, one being No. 10 

 of the "gruel" lot, which suffered from scour, and the other 

 ifo. 17 of the "crushed oats" lot, which succumbed, to anthrax, 

 which, how^ever, could in no way be attributed to the special 

 feeding. 



Table I. shows that crushed oats stood ahead of all the other 

 foods, whether final live-weight on the farm or carcass-weight 

 be taken. "Whole milk stood a good second, the animals of 

 this lot "dying" better than those of the "gruel" lot, though 

 the average live-weight was much the same in the two sets. 

 Calf meal came out slightly better than cod-liver oil, both in 

 average live-weight and in carcass-weight. 



