456 FEEDS AND FEEDING 



protein-rich supplement to balance the ration will not eat over 16 to 18 

 Ibs. of corn on the average during the fattening period. 



As corn became higher in price it became a matter of importance to 

 determine whether the allowance could not be still further reduced. It 

 was found in several experiments 10 that when first placed on feed, steers 

 would make excellent gains for some time on only corn silage, hay, and 2 

 to 3 Ibs. of some protein-rich supplement. Then as the price of corn and 

 other grain rose to unheard-of levels during the war a number of investi- 

 gators carried on trials to find if cattle could not be fattened satisfac- 

 torily for the large markets without feeding any grain in addition to that 

 in the corn silage. This question is of so much practical importance that 

 13 trials have already been carried on at 7 different stations in which 

 2-year-old steers have been fattened on a ration of only corn silage, 

 legume or mixed hay, and 2 to 3 Ibs. a head daily of linseed or cottonseed 

 meal, in comparison with others receiving a full feed of shelled corn in 

 addition. The following table summarizes the results of these trials, 

 which were carried on with a total of 222 steers averaging 976 Ibs. in 

 weight when placed on feed and fed for an average of 125 days. 



Feeding no grain except that in corn silage 



Daily Feed for 100 Ibs. gain 



Average ration gain Corn Supple- Hay Silage 



ment 



Lbs. Lbs. Lbs. Lbs. Lbs. 



Lot I, no shelled corn* 

 Supplement, 2.9 Ibs. 

 Corn silage, 49.3 Ibs. 



Hay, 3.8 Ibs 2.08 ... 144 203 2,441 



Lot II, full feed of corn* 

 Shelled corn, 13.7 Ibs. 

 Supplement, 2.8 Ibs. 

 Corn silage, 28.4 Ibs. 

 Hay, 2.9 Ibs 2.58 534 112 120 1,134 



*Slcinner and King, 5 trials (Indiana Buls. 206, 220, 240, 249); Evvard, Dunn, Culbertson, and col- 

 leagues, Iowa Station, 2 trials (Information to the authors); also 1 trial each by the following: Peters and 

 Carnes, Minn. Station (Information to the authors); Allison, Mo. Station (Information to the authors); 

 Trowbridge and Fox, Mo. Sta. (Information to the authors); Gramlich, Nebr. Station; Bohstedt, Ohio 

 Station, (Information to the authors); Morrison and Fuller, Wis. Station (Unpublished data). 



Experienced feeders have been much surprised to find that steers fed 

 only corn silage, hay and a small allowance of a supplement make such 

 large gains. In these extensive trials Lot I, fed such rations, gained 2.08 

 Ibs. a head daily, a gain which would have been considered most excellent, 

 even on a full feed of corn, before the introduction of the silo and the use 

 of modern well-balanced rations. However, Lot II, full fed on shelled 

 corn in addition, gained just a half pound more a head daily. 



Some of these trials were carried on during the war with corn as high 

 as $1.50 per bushel, while others have been conducted since the price of 

 corn fell below pre-war levels. Hence the feed cost of 100 Ibs. gain 

 varied widely. On the average, it was $2.29 lower for the steers fed no 



10 Skinner and King, Ind. Buls. 153, 163, 167; Cochel, Penn. Bui. 118; Tomhave 

 and Severson, Penn. Bui. 145. 



