24 



question " How much grain is necessary per pound gain in summer 

 for two-year-olds on full feed? for yearlings? for calves? " is that 

 9.2 pounds of grain are consumed per pound of gain on two-year-old 

 cattle; 7.5 pounds on yearlings and 5.6 pounds on calves, to produce 

 one pound of gain; to the question "How many pounds of grain 

 does it take per pound of gain in winter for two-year-olds on full 

 feed? for yearlings? for calves? " is that 11.2 pounds of grain are 

 consumed per pound of gain on two-year olds; 8.9 on yearlings and 

 7.7 on calves. 



It is interesting to compare the replies to these two questions 

 which show that the gains are more expensive in winter than in 

 summer feeding. From the reports, feeders estimate that it requires 

 two pounds more on the two-year-old; 1.4 pounds more on the year- 

 lings and 1.1 pound more on the calf to produce a pound of gain in 

 winter than in summer. This is consistent with the figures in ex- 

 periments at Purdue and other experiment stations. 



COST OF GAIN INCREASES WITH AGE OF CATTLE. 



While these reports are not based upon accurate records but 

 rather upon estimates made by practical feeders, they indicate that 

 cattle feeders generally agree that the cost of gains increases with the 

 age of the cattle as the two-year-old steer makes his gain at a greater 

 cost of feed than either the yearling or the calf because the ability 

 to consume grain increases more rapidly than the rate of gain. The 

 difference in the cost of gains on two-year-olds, yearlings and calves, 

 is not so great as is generally conceded by the men who are produc- 

 ing yearling beef, as it is frequently stated that the cost of gains on 

 two-year-old steers is from two to three times as great as it would 

 be on calves. The evidence here presented would indicate that such 

 a statement is greatly exaggerated. Another important point, and 

 one which is frequently overlooked by cattle feeders, in considering 

 the cost of gains, is that practically twice as much gain must be put 

 on calves to make them prime, as is necessary to finish two-year-old 

 steers starting in the feed lot in equal condition. 



GAINS SECURED UNDER DIFFERENT METHODS OF FEEDING. 



In answer to question 62 as to the average daily gain for full 

 feeding in winter, the reports show that two-year-old cattle gain 2.1 

 pounds per day; yearlings, 1.9; calves 1.7. In summer two-year-olds 

 gain 2.7; yearlings 2.3 and calves 2.3. These figures on the winter 

 feeding of cattle are comparable with the results obtained at the 

 Experiment Station where it was found that the daily gain varies 

 almost directly with the age of the cattle; that is, the older the 



