284 



for the "long fed" lot, May 20, 1907. The second test started 

 November 17, 1907, and closed for the "short fed" cattle March 

 15, 1908, and for the "long fed" cattle, May 15, 1908. 



FEEDS USED. 



All lots were fed on shelled corn, cotton seed meal, clover 

 hay and corn silage. The corn used during the first test was of 

 fair quality only and would have graded No. 3. That used in the 

 second test was of inferior quality, containing a large percentage 

 of moisture and would have been called "no grade." The cotton seed 

 meal was the "Dixie" brand, guaranteed to contain 41 per cent, pro- 

 tein and 9 per cent, fat and of excellent quality. The corn silage used 

 during the first test was made from a field which would have 

 yielded 30 bushels per acre. The corn was allowed to become 

 ripe as possible without danger of spoiling when put in the silo. 

 That used during the second test was from a field which would 

 have yielded 50 bushels per acre and was not allowed to become 

 quite so ripe as in the preceding year. The silage kept well and 

 was of excellent quality both winters. The clover hay used in the 

 first trial was free from mixture of other grasses but had been 

 damaged in the stack, so that it frequently showed a streak of 

 white mold. That used in the second test was bright and well 

 cured, but was mixed with about one-third blue grass and timothy. 



PRICES OF FEEDS. 



In order that a comparison of the cost of gains and margin 

 necessary in feeding may be made, it is necessary to fix upon a 

 uniform price so that the comparative results from feeding under 

 different conditions may not be influenced by variable factors. 

 For this purpose, shelled corn is valued at 40 cents per bushel, 

 cotton seed meal at $28.00 per ton, clover hay at $8.00 per ton 

 and corn silage at $2.50 per ton, which represents a good average 

 through a series of years. The variation in the price of corn 

 during the two winters when the work was conducted, together 

 with the fluctuation in the price of fat cattle, makes it necessary 

 to use different prices in computing profit or loss from feeding. 

 In the financial statements, corn is valued at the prevailing market 

 prices at the time of feeding: cotton seed meal at $28.00 per ton; 

 clover hay at $10.00 per ton and corn silage at $2.50 per ton. 



