1895.] PUBLIC DOCU^IENT — No. 33. 119 



lar<^o food consumption must be attributed the large gain in 

 wei'i^Iit. In case of corn stover as a coarse feed tiie gain 

 with one exception was small, being about nine-tenths of 

 a i)()und daily. This is due without doubt to the fact that 

 tho total amount of digestible matter consumed during the 

 corn-stover period was relatively small. Corn stover, when 

 fed as a part of the daily coarse fodder ration, makes a valu- 

 able food, but when given as a coarse feed exclusively the 

 animals will not consume a quantity sufficient to produce the 

 requisite gain. It has not the sweet taste of the hay, nor 

 the sour, appetizing taste of the ensilage. 



On comparing the daily gains with the amount of digest- 

 ible matter consumed daily, it must be admitted that for an 

 equal amount of digestible matter the corn ensilage rather 

 exceeds all other coarse fodders. 



(b) Cost of Daily Gain. 



In comparing the cost of feeds required to produce one 

 pound of live weight, it will be seen that f/ie relative costivas 

 higher with two-year-olds than icith yearlings. This is in 

 accordance with general teaching. 



Again, live weight was produced at the lowest cost both 

 with yearlings and two-year-olds when corn ensilage was the 

 principal coarse fodder of the daily ration. The corn fodder 

 ration is the next higher in cost, and then follow the corn 

 stover and finally, as the highest, the hay ration. When the 

 net cost of feed per pound of live weight gained is consid- 

 ered, the corn-stover period compares very favorably with 

 the ensilage and corn- fodder periods. 



In the grain addition to the coarse fodders the point has 

 been to so combine them as to get from 2 to 2.5 pounds of 

 digestible protein in the daily ration. 



I. To produce beef, then, at the lowest cost, grow and 

 feed those coarse fodders that yield the largest returns of 

 digestible matter per acre at the least cost of production. 

 Such coarse fodders are corn ensilage, corn fodder and, when 

 properly fed, corn stover. 



II. These coarse fodders must be supplemented with con- 

 centrated feeds, so as to secure 2 to 2.5 pounds of digestible 



