566 BULLETIN Xo. 142 [November, 



two lots of seventeen head each. In this division every effort was 

 made to make the lots as nearly alike as possible in quality, condition 

 and weight. In order to make the test as practical and simple as pos- 

 sible, the usual preliminary feeding period was dispensed with and the 

 steers were put on experiment two days after their arrival. 



To secure the corrrect weight of the steers at the beginning of the 

 experiment, they were weighed on three consecutive mornings, August 

 24, 25, and 26, before feeding and watering. The average of these 

 weights was then taken as the correct weight at the beginning of the 

 test which began on August 25. The experiment was divided into 

 periods of two weeks, the cattle being weighed at the end of each 

 period under the same conditions as to water and feed. 



Both lots received the same feeds consisting of corn meal, oil 

 meal, and clover hay. Lot 1 received these according to the common 

 method of feeding, that is, whole hay and concentrates fed separately 

 at regular feeding periods twice per day. In the case of lot 2 the 

 clover hay was chaffed by running it thru an ordinary ensilage machine 

 and it was then mingled with the grain portion of the ration and fed 

 thru a self-feeder, to which the cattle had access at all times. 



Four pigs were placed in each lot to utilize whatever undigested 

 feed passed thru the steers. While it was thought at the time that more 

 pigs might have been used to advantage, the difficulty in securing them 

 made the trial impossible. 



FEED LOTS AND EQUIPMENT 



With the exception of the method of feeding, the conditions sur- 

 rounding both lots were alike. Owing to the prevailing warm weather 

 at the begining of the experiment, it was thought best not to confine 

 the steers to a small feed lot with no shade other than that provided 

 by the shed. Consequently they were given the run of small paddocks 

 237 x 112 feet which adjoined the feed lots. Along one end of these 

 extended a double row of soft maple trees which furnished ample 

 shade and under which the cattle spent most of their time during the 

 day. These paddocks were sodded with blue-grass, but as it had been 

 pastured during the forepart of the season there was no available feed 

 when the cattle were turned in, and "because of the tramping and soil- 

 ing from the droppings, the steers obtained no feed from this source. 

 It may be said, however, that the pigs ate some of the grass and likely 

 profited slightly thereby. 



The feed lots proper were paved with brick and measured 36 x 48 

 feet, with a 12 foot shed running along the north side. In these small 

 lots the cattle were fed and allowed to run at all times. The steers 

 had access to pure, fresh water supplied in galvanized steel tanks into 

 which it was drawn from the University plant. The concentrates 

 were supplied to lot 1 in an open feed-box similar to that used in the 

 ordinary feed lot, w T hile the clover hay was fed in mangers along the 

 side of the lot. As the hay and grain were mixed for lot 2, a specially 

 adapted self-feeder was constructed thru which the mixture would run 

 as the cattle needed it. 



