FEEDS FOR BEEF CATTLE 471 



aceous roughage, while linseed meal, cottonseed meal, or gluten feed was 

 added to the ration of the other lot. 



Lot I, fed only corn and carbonaceous roughage, gained but 1.6 

 Ibs. per head daily, while Lot II, receiving 2.1 Ibs. of protein-rich 

 concentrates in addition, gained 2.2 Ibs. per head daily and required 

 about 20 per ct. less feed per 100 Ibs. gain. When the corn allowance 

 is properly balanced, not only is the feeding value of this grain greatly 

 increased with both the cattle and the pigs which follow the steers, but 

 it keeps the animals more healthy, shortens the feeding period, and gives 

 a higher finish than can be secured with unbalanced rations. 



Protein-rich concentrates as supplements to corn 



Feed for 100 Ibs. gain 



Initial Daily Concen- Rough- 



Average ration weight gain trates age 



Lbs. Lbs. Lbs. Lbs. 



Lot I, unbalanced ration 

 Corn, 16.3 Ibs. 



Carbonaceous roughage, 8.3 Ibs 995 1 . 6 1,082 522 



Lot II y balanced ration 

 Corn, 16.7 Ibs. 

 Protein-rich concentrate, 2.1 Ibs. 



Carbonaceous roughage, 8.6 Ibs 1,002 2.2 862 402 



Since the other cereals, such as barley, oats, kafir, and milo, are 

 relatively low in protein, they should be fed with legume hay, just as 

 in the case of corn, or else some protein-rich supplement should be added 

 to balance the ration. However these other cereals, with the exception 

 of rice, are richer in protein than is corn. Therefore a smaller amount 

 of a protein-rich supplement is needed to balance the ration than when 

 corn is fed. 



One can readily find how much protein-rich supplement is needed to 

 balance any ration by taking the recommendations of the Morrison 

 feeding standards as a guide. (Appendix Table V.) 



733. Adding a protein-rich, concentrate to corn and legume hay. 

 Whether it will pay to add a protein-rich supplement like linseed meal 

 or cottonseed meal to a ration of corn and legume hay for fattening 

 cattle, is a question of much practical importance. Even in the case of 

 clover hay, which is lower in protein than alfalfa, soybean, or cowpea 

 hay, 2-year-old steers given all the hay they will clean up in addition 

 to a full feed of corn will eat enough hay during the early part of the 

 fattening period to balance their ration fairly well. Later, when they 

 eat more corn and less hay, the ration will be lower in protein, and they 

 will usually make more rapid and economical gains if a supplement is 

 added. This is shown in the following table summarizing the results 

 of 3 trials 3 in which 2-year-old steers were fed for periods averaging 172 

 days: 



"Skinner and Cochel, 2 trials, Tnd. Buls. 129, 136; Mumford, 1 trial, 111. Bui. 103. 



