1906.] RATIONS FOR BEEF BREEDING Cows. 333 



mined, upon the acreages given below, we have the following com- 

 parable results : 



Lot i. Acreage consumed. 



Silage 1436 



Clover hay 1400 



Oat straw 0592 



Total 3428* 



Lot 2. 



Shock corn 1407 



Clover hay 1400 



Oat straw . .0668 



Total 3475* 



Lot 3. 



Stover 0917 



Clover hay 0624 



Oat straw 0505 



Total 2046 



*For actual amount of land involved see statement on p. 332. 



RECORD OF THS Cows THAT . 



Cows about to calve were removed from their respective lots, 

 usually a few days prior to calving and individual records kept 

 both of the feed consumed and the increase or decrease in weight of 

 cows and calves. As the oldest calf at the end of the test was onl> 

 seventy days old the calves in no case received any feed other than 

 the milk of their dams. It is true that some of the calves began to 

 pick at the bedding when no more than a week old but what they 

 consumed was so slight that this factor was immaterial. 



When a cow was removed, her ration was made up of the same 

 kind of feeds to which she had previously been accustomed. Soon 

 after calving the amounts were greatly increased in order to insure 

 a good flow of milk for the calf and not permit the cow to run down 

 in condition to any great extent. 



The accompanying tables present the important data concerning 

 gains and losses in weight, feed consumed, and cost of feeds : 



