568 BULLETIN No. 142 [November, 



Plate 1 shows a cross section of the self-feeder giving the essential 

 features of its construction. It was so arranged that the feed could be 

 conveyed by means of a feed carrier on a suspended track from the 

 barn to the feeder into which the feed was dumped. The track was 

 similar to those used for hay carriers and is shown at point T. The 

 rectangular frame which was 5 feet wide and 10 feet high was con- 

 structed of 4 x 4-inch material. This served as a frame for the feeder 

 as well as a support for the track. It will be noticed from the cut that 

 the bin was but 16 inches wide at the opening and this opening was 

 6 inches high. This construction seemed necessary in order to enable 

 the cattle to work the feed out as needed and to prevent clogging. The 

 studding, which were 2 x 4-inch material, were placed four feet apart 

 inside the bin and served as supports to the sides. Other than these 

 points the feeder was not essentially different from those commonly in 

 use in the corn belt. 



QUALITY AND COST OF FEEDS 



The feeds used were corn meal, oil meal, and clover hay. The 

 corn graded No. 2 yellow, and the clover hay No. 1. The oil meal 

 was "Old Process," ground linseed cake, pea size. The cost of these 

 feeds and their preparation was as follows : 



Per ton 



Cost of grinding corn, $0.060 per cwt. or $ 1.200 



Chopping hay by running thru ensilage machine, $0.05 per cwt. or 1.000 



Shelled corn, $0.35 per bu. or 12.499 



Ground corn, including cost of grinding :... 13.699 



Clover hay 8.000 



Chopped clover hay T. . . 9.000 



Oil meal (ground linseed cake, pea size) 28.000 



METHOD OF FEEDING STEERS 



Owing to the shortness of the feeding period it was thought best 

 to get the cattle on full grain feed as soon as possible in order to 

 secure the greatest gain in live weight and best finish, as this principle 

 was thought to be desirable in short feeding. Oil meal was used to 

 supplement the ground corn because it has been found at the Illinois 

 Station that it contributes to the production of larger gains by stimu- 

 lating the appetite so that larger quantities of concentrates are con- 

 sumed to advantage.* The full grain feed was reached by gradually 

 increasing the grain ration in lot 1 and the proportion of concentrates 

 to roughage in lot 2, the rate of change varying somewhat with the 

 appetite of the cattle. At the end of four weeks they were practically 

 on full feed with no bad effects noticeable except with one steer in 

 lot 1. He appeared to have a slight attack of indigestion and did not 

 eat well from September 16 to 22. 



Table 1 shows the average daily ration per steer by periods. 

 These periods correspond with the periodical weights which were taken 

 every two weeks. Period 1 extended from August 25 to September 8 ; 



"Illinois Bulletin No. 103 Page 80. 



