FARM ANIMALS 125 



allowed to graze on low fields and swampy thickets. 

 The average daily gain was estimated to be .28 

 of a pound for cows, .49 for yearlings, .67 for 

 sucking calves, .79 for steers and bulls and .82 

 for heifers. The total gain made by scrub cattle 

 on native pasture during a period of seven months 

 ranged from 103 to 172 pounds per head, or a 

 beef value of $2.58 to $4.30. Cattle maintained 

 in unimproved southern pastures throughout the 

 winter, however, may lose weight greatly and in 

 many instances as shown in Florida and elsewhere 

 may become badly emaciated. In the use of 

 pastures for beef animals it is highly desirable to 

 prevent their being overstocked. If the grass is 

 to have the full value which it should have in the 

 ration it is necessary that it be present in suitable 

 quantities and be easy of access for cattle, other- 

 wise they do not obtain as much as is needful and 

 lose time in hunting for it. 



Numerous other coarse feeds are used more 

 or less extensively throughout different parts of 

 the country in rations for steers. Thus Pearl 

 millet has been tested in a number of localities 

 with rather unsatisfactory results. Steers did 

 not do as well on it as on Kafir corn or corn sto- 

 ver. On the western ranges, considerable feeding 

 value has been found in the prickly pear. This 

 cactus may be fed in rations of forty to two hun- 

 dred pounds. It has been found that oxen may 

 be worked on an exclusive ration of prickly pear 

 and, when fed in this way, need water only two 

 or three times a week. Hair balls may form in 

 the stomach, however, from an excessive use of 

 this feed. Prickly pear may be rendered edible 

 by singeing the spines off, slicing, steaming or 

 ensiling. Rye pasture has been used as a part 



