84 



REPORT OF THE SCOTTISH COMMISSION 



has never been surpassed either as to palatability or fattening 

 qualities : — 



Indian Corn silage . 



Roots (turnips) 



Cut straw (oat) 



Clover hay (well cured) 



Bran 



Indian Corn (ground) 



Oil meal 



lbs. 

 50 

 20 

 2 

 6 

 2 

 4 

 2 



The silage, pulp roots, chopped straw, and meal all mixed to- 

 gether and fed in equal portions night and morning, part of the hay 

 following each feed of chopped forage. 



4. Studying Influence of Age on cost of Beef 



For a number of years a study of the influence of age on the 

 cost of making gains or increasing the weights of steers has been 

 under investigation. The experiments show a fairly regular grada- 

 tion of cost according to age, that is, the older the animal and the 

 longer on feed the more expensive to make a pound of increase in 

 weight. Average results show : — 



Cost per 100 lbs. 

 increase in live weight. 



Steers from birth to 6 months . . $2.24 



6 to 12 months 

 1 to 2 years 

 1\ to 3 years 

 3 1 to 4 years 



4.11 

 5.49 

 6.17 



7.98 



In the fattening period early gains are always very much more 

 cheaply put on than later gains. First month gains with three-year 

 olds are not infrequently made at as low a cost as 4 cents per pound, 

 while later gains with the same animal may cost from 15 to 20 cents 

 per pound. 



5. Studying Influence of Methods of Housing on Cost of Beef 



Comparing steers fed loose in box stalls with similar steers fed 

 tied in stalls, and making a study of the number that may best 

 be fed together loose in box stalls, the results would indicate that — 



(a) Steers fed in box stalls loose do better than similar steers 

 fed tied on similar feed. 



(b) From eight to ten in a box give better results than a larger 

 number. Steers fed loose together must be fairly uniform as to 

 size and quiet as to disposition. 



6. Baby Beef 



Experiments in baby beef production show a decided advantage 

 in getting steers ready for the block at as early an age as possible 

 rather than in letting them go till three or four years old before 

 having them ready to kill. Steers fed and got ready for the block 



