82 



VARIATION 

 GAIN IN PROPORTION TO FEED CONSUMED 



Differences of this character are further shown by Professor 

 Mumford's experiments with the various market grades of steers. 1 

 Feeding cattle are divided in the markets into six grades, from 

 fancy selected down to inferior. A car load (sixteen) of each of 

 these six grades (ninety-six animals in all) were fed on the same 

 ration for a period of 179 days. The animals were all natives, 

 though the better grades showed a much higher percentage of 

 good blood than did the lower. The following table shows the 

 relative ability of these six grades of steers to handle feed and 

 convert it into gain : 



RELATIVE EFFICIENCY OF DIFFERENT GRADES OF STEERS 



Here is a variation of over 31 per cent (460-350) in the total 

 gain of sixteen steers under equal opportunities, and, what is 



1 Bulletin No. go, Agricultural Experiment Station, University of Illinois. 



