an:nual eepokts of department oe aghicultuiie. 



EEEF-CATTLE INVESTIGATIONS. 



BEEF rr.ODUCTlON. 



Tlie beef-cattle experimental work was continued in Mississippi, 

 North Carolina, and West Virginia, in cooperation with the State 

 agricultural colleges, and on the Animal Husbandry farm at Belts- 

 A'ille, Md. In the steer-fattening experiments rations with only a 

 small amount of concentrates were used. Nitrogenous supplements 

 were used liberally, but the amount of grain was reduced to a mini- 

 mum. Limited o-rain rations were used with satisfactory results, 

 which indicates that beef can be produced economically largely on 

 roughage when supplemented Avith a protein-rich feed. 



On the farm at Beltsville, Md., four lots of 2-year-old steers were 

 fed to compare cottonseed meal and soaked velvet beans when used 

 with and without the addition of shelled corn. The addition cf corn 

 to a ration composed of corn silage, cottonseed meal, and wheat straw 

 did not pay. The addition of corn to the ration of velvet beans and 

 corn silage was profitable. The lot receiving corn silage and soaked 

 A^^elvet beans Avith a small quantity of cottonseed meal as an appetizer 

 produced the most economical gains and showed the greatest profit, 

 even though the daily gains and the selling price of the cattle AYere 

 lower than those of any of the other lots. 



In the baby-beef production experiments at LeAvisburg, W. Va., 

 22 calves, after being weaned in the fall of 1918, Avere started on feed 

 December 12 and received a ration of corn silage, cloA^er hay, shelled 

 corn, ground oats, Avheat bran, and cottonseed meal. They were 

 turned out to grass April 25 and Avere fed supplemental feeds on 

 pasture in the summer, Avith the intention of marketing them as 

 finished baby beeves in the fall or early Avinter of 1919. 



At Canton, Miss., tAvo lots of calves averaging 392 pounds Avere 

 fed for 112 days to determine which is the better rati-on, corn silage 

 and cottonseed meal or corn silage and cottonseed meal supplemented 

 with chopped corn. The addition of chopped corn did not greatly 

 increase the daily gains but greatly increased the cost of gain. 



Wintering steers. At Springdale, N. C, and Lewisburg, W. Va., 

 several lots of ^steers were Avintered to determine the relative merits 

 of wintering on different rations and to prepare for grazing experi- 

 ments the following summer. 



At Springdale five lots of steers received the following rations: 

 (1) Mixed hay, (2) corn silage, (3) corn silage and corn stover, (4) 

 Avinter pasture Avith additional feed during the feAV stormy days, (5) 

 corn stover, mixed hay, wheat straAV, and ear corn. The results 

 shoAved that so far as condition of the cattle Avas concerned there Avas 

 practically no difference in the fiA^e lots, the principal difference being 

 in the cost of the rations. 



At Lewisburg three lots of steer calves AA^ere wintered 134 days on 

 the following rations: (1) Corn silage, ha}^, and cottonseed meal, (2) 

 silage and clover hay, (3) mixed hay and a grain mixture consisting 

 of parts by weight, shelled corn 3, Avheat bran 1, oil meal 1. At the 

 end of the winter the grain-fed cah^es Avere in someAvhat better con- 

 dition, while the calves in lot 1 were also in good condition. The 

 steers in lot 3 were in the best condition, but the ration Avas extremely 

 expensive. The first ration proved to be the most satisfactory. 



