100 FEEDS AND FEEDING 



The Kansas experiments show, however, that while a steer whose 

 growth has been checked for a year or more may grow nearly as tall as 

 one fed well all along, it is almost certain to have a smaller digestive 

 capacity, narrower hips, flatter ribs, heavier shoulders, and lighter hind 

 quarters, even when finished for market. 



In experiments at the Missouri Station 48 conducted by Moulton, 

 Trowbridge, and Haigh to study the effect of scanty feeding on growth, 

 three groups of steers were fed different amounts of the same feeds 

 from a few weeks of age for four years. One lot was full fed from birth. 

 A second lot was given a medium ration, being supplied sufficient feed 

 for maximum growth without appreciable fattening. A third lot was 

 fed a scant ration, being given only enough feed to enable them to gain 

 about 0.5 Ib. a head daily. The steers which were scantily fed grew less 

 rapidly in all respects than those given a liberal ration. They were in 

 the poor condition one would expect in animals not being properly cared 

 for. These steers always suffered more severely from indigestion, pink 

 eye, and other ailments, and there was considerable mortality among 

 them. At 4 years of age they had reached the same height attained by 

 the full-fed group, but they were decidedly stunted in length, width, 

 and circumference of the body. The scant ration had no apparent 

 effect on the breaking strength of the bones, due undoubtedly to the 

 fact that alfalfa hay, rich in calcium and phosphorus, was the rough- 

 age fed. 



These studies on growth are highly significant to the stockman. They 

 show that under certain conditions it may be profitable to carry growing 

 animals thru the winter on roughages alone, even tho they lose 

 slightly in weight, for on a return to good pasture, animals in spare 

 but thrifty condition make exceedingly economical gains. However, the 

 breeder who seeks to develop his animals toward an ideal must supply 

 ample feed during the whole growth period. 



"Mo. Res. Bui. 43. 



