CATTLE-FEEDING IN NEW YORK. 307 



eight weeks old, it took about 75 per cent, more food to make a pound 

 live weight than in the first period when they were eight to twelve 

 weeks old. 



The writer tried a similar experiment in 1874 with a miscellaneous 

 lot of ten calves fed wholly upon skim-milk. The milk was all weighed 

 daily and the calves each week. It required of milk for oiie pound 

 gain : first week, 11.02 pounds ; second week, 12.18 pounds ; third week, 

 13.17 pounds; fourth week, 13.40 pounds; fifth week, 14.60 pounds; 

 sixth week, 15.05 pounds ; seventh week, 16.71 pounds: eighth week, 

 16.80 pounds; ninth week, 17.01 pounds; tenth week, 16.08 pounds; 

 eleventh week, 16 pounds ; twelfth week, 15.90 pounds. The decrease 

 of milk to make one pound live weight, beginning the tenth week, was 

 caused by the calves learning to eat grass. These calves were each 

 weighed separately, as was the milk fed to each, and the gain was very 

 unequal in differeut calves, as they were not a uniform lot ; but the 

 result stated is the average of the ten. We regarded this experiment 

 with great interest, not only as showing the gradual increase of cost to 

 put on live weight as the animal grows larger and older, but as showing 

 the value of skim-milk in growing calves. It has a value, when properly 

 fed, much above that usually attached to it. We should also mention 

 the experiments of Mr. J. B. Lawes, of Eothamstead, England, which 

 proved the precise point under consideration, that the cost of putting 

 on live weight is in proportion to the age and size of the animal.. 



Mr. C. S. Marvin, of Oxford Depot, Orange County, New York, raised 

 the steer called " Uncle Abe," and Hon. George Geddes states the fol- 

 lowing facts concerning his growth: At birth, October 19, 1864, 

 weighed 134 pounds ; at ninety days, 385 pounds, having gained 251 

 pounds, or 2.79 pounds per day. During this time he had the milk of 

 his mother, and after ten days old a quart of meal and oats per day, the 

 mother having all the meal she would eat. At six months old he 

 weighed 670 pounds, having gained 285 pounds during the second period, 

 or 3.16 pounds per day, its food having been gradually increased to 

 two quarts of meal per day. At one year old weighed 1,036 pounds, 

 having gained the second six months 360 pounds, or 2.03 pounds per 

 day. At eighteen months weighed 1,354 pounds ; gaining the third six 

 months 318 pounds, or 1.76 pounds per day. At two years old weighed 

 1,616 pounds, having gained the fourth six months 262 pounds, or 1.45 

 pounds per day. At two and a half years old weighed 1,830 pounds, gain- 

 ing 214 pounds, or 1.18 pounds per day. At three years old weighed 2,070 

 pounds, gaining240 pounds, or 1.33 pounds per day. At three and a half 

 years old weighed 2,270 pounds, gaining 200 pounds, or 1.11 pounds per 

 day. At four years old weighed 2,360 pounds, and at the end of four 

 years and four mouths weighed 2,530 pounds ; having gained in the last 

 ten months 260 pounds, a trifle more than in the first ninety days, the 

 rate of increase falling to -{'^q of a pound per day. As the age increased 

 the food was increased to meet the wants of the animal, and at two and 

 a half years eight quarts of meal, with good roots, hay, or grass, was 

 given. It is easy for the reader to see that this steer might have been 

 sold at a profit at any time up to two years old. At this latter period 

 he would have brought in market as good beef $100, which would have 

 given a profit, but would have brought a better profit at one year old, 

 as he would then have sold for about $70. It will be noted also that it 

 took two years, or till he was three years old, to double his weight at the 

 end of the first year ; or, in other words, it costs less than one-half as 

 much to produce a given weight the first year as during the second and 

 third years. This is the earliest complete case of actual weights given 



