471 



Table XII shows that when the steers were continued on the 

 same rations there was a decrease in the rate and an increase in the 

 cost of gains due to the higher condition of the cattle. Lot 4 which 

 had previously been fed on shelled corn and clover hay failed to 

 show any improvement during the next month from the addition 

 of cotton-seed meal to the ration. This, however, was due to 

 one of the steers in this lot being off feed and to the extremely muddy 

 condition of the lot in which they were fed. For these reasons the 

 results from feeding this lot should not be considered as based upon 

 average conditions. The results, however, are reported in order 

 that the feeder may appreciate the influence which unfavorable con- 

 ditions may have in determining the results of an experiment. Lot 

 6 gave results similar to those se.cured in previous work which justi- 

 fies the statement that when conditions are normal, an improve- 

 ment in the ration during the final stages of fattening results in a 

 more rapid and a cheaper gain than where the use of the same 

 ration is continued. 



During the winter 1908-9 one lot of cattle, Lot 6, was fed 

 on shelled corn and clover hay for six months, the results of 

 which were reported in bulletin No. 136. After the close of the 

 experiment this lot, not being finished, was retained in tne feed lots 

 for one month, a change being made in the ration by the addition 

 of cotton-seed meal. During the six months feeding period they had 

 made an average daily gain of 1 . 89 pounds per head from the use 

 of 10.15 pounds shelled corn and 5.23 pounds clover hay at a cost 

 of $12.35 P er hundred. During the finishing period of one month, 

 the same results were secured as in previous years from improving 

 the ration in increasing the rate of gain from 1.89 pounds to 

 2.90 pounds per head daily and decreasing the cost of gains from 

 $12.35 to $10.83 P er hundred. At the close of the winter feeding 

 experiment they were valued at $6.55 per hundred. The last 

 months feeding required a margin of 23 cents per hundred to in- 

 sure an equal profit, while the actual margin secured was 30 cents 

 or a profit of seven cents per hundred without giving credit for 

 the manure or pork produced. 



The results of all trials conducted at the Station during the 

 months of May and June, 1907, 1908 and 1909 have shown that the 

 final month in finishing steers of good quality and breeding has 

 added an additional profit to that secured during the winter feeding 

 season. This has been exceptionally large where the cattle were 

 not on the most efficient rations during the winter and which were 

 improved during the finishing period by the use of nitrogenous 

 concentrates. 



