727 



show that the addition of silage once daily to the ration did not af- 

 fect the selling value of the cattle. The addition of silage twice daily 

 (Lot 4) decreased the selling value of the cattle 15 cents per cwt. 

 However, in this connection it should be borne in mind that the cattle 

 in Lot 4 were rather poor eaters during a large part of the trial. The 

 substitution of corn silage (Lot 3) for clover hay (Lot 2) as rough- 

 age increased the selling value 10 cents per cwt. It was found neces- 

 sary in Lot 3 to limit the silage fed the cattle in order to induce the 

 consumption of large enough quantities of grain to make satisfactory 

 gains. The finish at the end of the feeding period, however, was not 

 as interesting as at the end of ninety days. 



After being on feed for ninety days, the cattle fed silage had 

 shown a very remarkable improvement over those not receiving this 

 succulent feed. The addition of silage once daily increased the selling 

 value of the cattle 50 cents per cwt. ; the addition of silage twice daily 

 to the clover hay for roughage increased the finish 25 cents per cwt. ; 

 and the substitution of silage for hay increased the value of the cattle 

 75 cents per cwt. 



The high value of silage for short feeding is thus emphasized 

 by the margin and profits secured during the first ninety days as com- 

 pared with the last seventy days. The increase in profit per steer 

 the last seventy days was greater in Lot 2 than in either Lots I or 3 

 and the increased margin was 40 cents per cwt. greater in Lot 2 than 

 in any other lot. In other words the most marked benefits from 

 silage occurred during the early part of the fattening period and in 

 the last seventy days there was enough greater margin secured in the 

 clover hay lot to overcome the greater difference in cost of gain. 



SUMMARY. The many and often conflicting factors affecting 

 cattle feeding are such that duplicate results can seldom be secured 

 with the same rations. In order to secure an accurate idea of the 

 value of rations on a comparative basis it is necessary to study all 

 factors in their relation to the general question in the exact form in 

 which they were found during the progress of the trial. Table V 

 shows a complete summary of the results. 



In the summary the prices of feeds are as follows : shelled corn, 

 first month 51.7 cents, second month 51.7 cents, third month 57.1 

 cents, fourth month 58.5 cents, fifth month 64.2 cents, last ten days 

 71.2 cents per bushel; cottonseed meal $29.00 per ton; clover hay 

 $20.00 per ton ; and corn silage $4.00 per ton. No charge is made 

 for the straw used in bedding nor for the labor of feeding. Neither 

 is any credit given for the manure produced by the cattle, it being 

 considered that the value of this product of feeding will pay for the 

 labor of feeding and the straw used for bedding. In reality, on the 



