862 



SHELTER, FEED LOTS, AND WATER SUPPLY 



Each lot of cattle occupied similar quarters which consisted of 

 an open, concreted lot 20 by 28 feet joined on the west by an open 

 shed 16 by 28 feet. The concrete floors which were cleaned every 

 two or three weeks kept the yards in comfortable condition during 

 the entire season. The sheds were kept well bedded. The cattle 

 had comfortable quarters at all times. 



Both grain and roughage were fed under cover. Grain and silage 

 were fed in troughs thirty inches wide along the feed alley. Hay 

 was fed in the racks on either side of the lots. Water was supplied 

 in galvanized iron tanks adjacent to the open lots and surrounded 

 by five or six inches of manure held in place by wooden jackets. A 

 fresh supply of water was kept before the cattle at all times. 



WEIGHTS 



Each steer was weighed individually for three consecutive days 

 at the beginning and end of the trial and every thirty days during 

 the progress of the same. The averages of the three weights at the 

 beginning and end of the trial were taken as the initial and final 

 weights, respectively. The identity of each steer was known by 

 means of a numbered tag on a strap fastened around the neck. Lot 

 weights were taken every ten days in order to facilitate keeping 

 records of feed consumed and gains made. Weights were taken at 

 9 :oo A. M. without change in the ration or water of the cattle. Each 

 lot of hogs was weighed every ten days. 



METHOD OF FEEDING 



The method of feeding was practically the same in all lots re- 

 ported in this bulletin. Grain was fed at 6:00 A. M. and 4:30 P. M. 

 in troughs, under cover. The corn was placed in the trough an4 

 cottonseed meal, ground soybeans, or mixed molasses feed poured 

 upon and mixed with it. After the cattle had cleaned up the grain, 

 which usually required from a half to three-quarters of an hour, 

 roughage was fed. The lots receiving silage were fed this roughage 

 both morning and evening. In Lot 5, molasses (cane) was poured 

 upon the silage at each feed. Lots 2 and 3 received hay twice daily ; 

 the other lots received dry roughage at the morning feed. It was 

 the intention to have all silage cleaned up within two hours after it 

 was offered and all dry roughage before time for the next feed. Salt 

 was kept before the cattle at all times. 



DESCRIPTION OF THE CATTLE 



The cattle used in this trial were purchased locally and con- 

 sisted largely of steers of Shorthorn breeding, a large number being 

 pure-bred. There were a few grade Herefords and Angus in the 

 drove. All were cattle of high quality and were rather fleshy steers, 

 suitable for short feeding. All lots were valued at $8.00 per cwt. in 

 the feed lot. 



