472 FEEDS AND FEEDING 



Adding a protein-rich concentrate to corn and clover hay 



Initial Daily Feed for 100 Ibs. 



weight gain Concentrates 



Lba. Lbs. Lbs. Lbs. 



Average ration weight gain Concentrates 



Lbs 



Lot I, 35 steers 

 Corn, 18.4 Ibs.* 



Clover hay, 9.4 Ibs 1,032 2.0 940 484 



Lot II, 85 steers 

 Corn, 17.7 Ibs.* 

 Protein-rich concentrate, 2.9 Ibs. 



Clover hay, 9.1 Ibs 1,047 2.4 854 376 



*Ear corn fed in the Illinois trial has been reduced to the equivalent of shelled corn. 



In each of the trials Lot II, receiving a nitrogenous concentrate (cot- 

 tonseed meal or linseed and gluten meal) in addition to corn and clover 

 hay, made larger gains and required less feed per 100 Ibs. gain. With 

 feeds at the market prices, the gains were also cheaper than in Lot I. 

 Due to better finish the steers in Lot II sold for a higher price in all 

 trials, bringing 25 cents more per 100 Ibs. on the average than those in 

 Lot I. 



Somewhat larger amounts of the protein-rich supplements were fed 

 in these trials than was necessary to balance the ration. In fact, from 

 what we now know about the nutrient requirements of steers, not over 

 1.75 Ibs. per head daily of cottonseed meal or linseed meal is needed to 

 balance the ration of 2-year-old steers full-fed on corn and clover hay. 

 (710) Obviously, more will be needed when corn or sorghum silage is 

 fed in addition, as these feeds are low in protein. When only sufficient 

 cottonseed meal or linseed meal is fed to balance the ration, each 100 

 Ibs. of supplement will usually save 250 to 300 Ibs. of shelled corn or the 

 equivalent in corn and other feed. (750, 776) 



In a recent trial by Peters and Games at the Minnesota Station 4 steers 

 fed shelled corn and clover hay made slightly smaller gains than others 

 fed linseed meal in addition, but required no more feed. Consequently 

 the gains were more expensive when the supplement was added. In this 

 trial the steers ate on the average 19.1 Ibs. corn per head daily, and 11.6 

 Ibs. clover hay, a larger amount of legume hay than steers will commonly 

 eat when full-fed on corn. Therefore, the ration was better balanced 

 than is usually the case when corn and clover hay are fed alone. 



That alfalfa hay is rich enough in protein to fully balance corn for 

 yearlings or 2-year-old steers full-fed corn and alfalfa hay, is shown in 

 trials by Gramlich at the Nebraska Station. 5 On the average, steers fed 

 alfalfa hay, shelled corn, and either linseed meal or cottonseed cake 

 made no more rapid gains, required no less feed for 100 Ibs. gain, and 

 sold for no higher a price than did steers fed merely corn and alfalfa 

 hay. The steers fed alfalfa hay ate on the average 16.6 Ibs. corn and 10.9 

 Ibs. hay per head daily and gained 2.41 Ibs. For each 100 Ibs. gain there 

 were required 695 Ibs. corn and 460 Ibs. alfalfa hay. 



'Information to the authors. 5 Nebr. Bui. 174; information to the authors. 



