324 



meal with corn, shredded stover and straw had gained as much in 135 

 days as those which had been fed on the same ration with the ex- 

 ception of linseed meal, made in 180 days. That is to say, where 

 clover hay is substituted for shredded stover and oat straw the feed- 

 er will save two months; where linseed meal is added to corn, 

 shredded stover and oat straw he will save one and one-half months 

 out of a six months feeding period. 



A study of Table IV will show that 946 pounds of ear corn are 

 required to make 100 pounds of gain when fed with clover hay, 1063 

 pounds when fed with linseed meal, shredded stover and oat straw, 

 and 1345 pounds when fed with shredded stover and oat straw. 399 

 pounds of clover hay substituted for 392 pounds of shredded stover 

 and 194 pounds of oat straw resulted in a saving of 399 pounds of 

 ear corn, or a difference in cost of $1.87 or 28 per cent, in making 

 100 pounds of beef, in favor of Lot I over Lot 3. By feeding linseed 

 meal with corn, shredded stover and oat straw there was a saving of 

 282 pounds of ear corn, 107 pounds of shredded stover and 86 

 pounds of oat straw for every 85 pounds of linseed meal fed, or a 

 difference in cost of 67c or 8 per cent, in making 100 pounds of beef 

 in favor of Lot 2 over Lot 3. The difference in cost of producing 100 

 pounds of gain is not the whole measure of the value of clover and 

 linseed meal, as the steers which received these feeds, although worth 

 the same at the beginning of the experiment, were worth 35 cts. per 

 cwt. more when sold. The cost of producing 100 pounds of beef was 

 greater in all lots during the last half of the experiment than during 

 the first, although the rate of gain was greater. This is due to two 

 factors; first, a greater proportion of grain was fed, making the 

 ration itself cost more; second, a greater amount of digestible dry 

 matter is required for a pound of increase on fleshy steers, than on 

 thin steers. 



The table shows that less dry matter was required during the 

 first than during the second half of the experiment to produce 100 

 pounds gain in the lot fed clover. In the other two lots the opposite 

 was true. Undoubtedly this is due to the fact that the ration fed Lot 

 I during the first half of the experiment was more nearly balanced 

 than it was during the last half. That is, it came nearer meeting all 

 the requirements of the animal without waste. In Lots 2 and 3 the 

 ration was more nearly balanced during the second half than during 

 the first, hence the more efficient use of dry matter in producing 

 gains. 



Pork Produced. 



The method of feeding in this experiment was such that the cat- 

 tle consumed all the grain weighed out to them. The feed bunks were 

 of such a design that practically none of the grain was lost. In this 



