Table A' shows that the nitrogen, phosphoric acid and potash con- 

 tained in the feeds used in this series of experiments, if replaced in the 

 form of commercial fertilizer at twenty cents per pound for nitrogen, 

 and five cents per pound for phosphoric acid and for potash, would cost 

 $756.52, or an average of $15.76 for each steer fed. While the steers 

 would remove a small portion of these materials from the farm when 

 sold on the market and there would be a further loss from leaching of 

 manure, the average feeder can easily return to the land sixty per cent. 

 of all the plant food consumed by his livestock. This would amount to 

 approximately two (2) dollars per month for each steer, which is a 

 matter worthy of consideration in steer feeding. It may also be noted 

 that the most concentrated ration used in these tests, that fed to Lot I, 

 had the greatest amount of plant food in it, while the more bulky ration, 

 that fed to Lot II, had the least. This shows that in purchasing con- 

 centrated feed for livestock ^fiere is a large amount of fertilizer material 

 gained in addition to the feeding value, which helps to build up the land. 



General Conclusions. 



The results secured from the experimental work of the winter of 

 1909-1910 indicate that: 



1. The most economical ration for fattening steers in Pennsyl- 

 vania is one composed largely of roughage with a limited amount of 

 concentrates. 



2. The local demand for beef is such that the cattle should not 

 be carried to too high a degree of finish. 



3. Increasing the proportion of corn silage in ration for fat- 

 tening steers increases the profits and gains from the feeding. 



4. Protection from cold is as unnecessary for fattening cattle 

 on succulent feeds as when dry, feeds are used. 



5. Steer feeding was a profitable venture in Pennsylvania under 

 conditions prevailing at the Experiment Station from December 15, 

 1909, to May 3, 1910, the average price received for corn fed to experi- 

 mental cattle being $1.05 per bushel. 



6. The margin necessary between buying and selling prices to 

 prevent loss from fattening cattle on a bulky ration was $1.23 per cwt., 

 and on a concentrated ration, $1.68 per cwt. 'The difference in margin 

 necessary for feeding in the shelter experiment was 17.21-. per cwt. in 



favor of outdoor feeding. 



(16) 



