120 FARM ANIMALS 



hay, whole or cut into short lengths. In Kansas it 

 cost about thirty cents per ton for the labor to cut 

 alfalfa hay into one-inch lengths. Steers on cut 

 hay were found to gain about seven pounds per 

 head more than on whole hay during a feeding 

 period of usual length. It is obvious, therefore, 

 that if the feeder is properly prepared to cut alfalfa 

 hay, it will pay to run it through a feed cutter for 

 steers. As already hinted, a combination of alfalfa 

 and corn makes an ideally balanced ration for steers 

 and is exceedingly economic and effective. The 

 unusual value of a combination of alfalfa hay and 

 corn for the production of fine beef has been demon- 

 strated by numerous experiments and by the prac- 

 tical experience of beef raisers throughout the 

 country. The flavor of the beef produced by alfalfa 

 hay and corn is excellent. In feeding alfalfa hay 

 worth from $5 to $7 per ton on the market in 

 New Mexico from $10 to $13 per ton was ob- 

 tained by turning it into beef. The economy of 

 marketing it in the form of beef is, therefore, obvi- 

 ous. For beef production it is recommended that 

 alfalfa hay be stacked in the field, since in this way 

 more of the leaves are kept in connection with the 

 stems than by other methods of handling. By 

 feeding a combination of alfalfa with a succulent 

 feed it is possible to make very rapid gains in 

 steers and at the same time to put them in the 

 best market condition. Corn stover or even corn 

 silage does not contain the nutriment required by 

 the steer for producing the best results in beef. 

 When this forage material is supplemented with 

 nitrogenous feed, such as alfalfa, linseed meal, or 

 cotton seed meal, better results are secured. Al- 

 falfa and silage, moreover, not only furnish a 

 combination which yields excellent beef, but can 



