green manures and commercial fertilizers. This experiment is a 

 continuation of the work previously reported in Bulletin 102 and 

 the Annual Report of the Pennsylvania School of Agriculture and 

 Experiment Station for the year ending June 30; 1911, which has 

 been carried on in order to determine profitable methods of steer 

 feeding under Pennsylvania conditions. 



Experiments at this and other stations have shown that the 

 addition of corn silage to the rations that are usually fed to fat- 

 tening animals results in cheaper and more rapid gains in the 

 feed lot, and that its succulent nature causes cattle to shed the 

 hair early and to look more attractive than those fed exclusively 

 on dry feeds. A further advantage in Pennsylvania is that an 

 excellent quality of corn silage can be produced in localities where 

 the season is too short for corn to mature. 



The purpose of this experiment was to determine to what 

 extent silage could be profitably used in steer feeding. Twenty- 

 seven grade Shorthorn and Hereford steers were purchased on the 

 open market in Pittsburgh for this purpose. Three of them were 

 used for other purposes, and the remaining twenty-four were en- 

 tered in the silage test. 



The Cost of Cattle at Market vs. Cattle Delivered In Feed Lots. 



In order that a full and complete record of the cattle may 

 be available, the following data are inserted. 



Nov. 16 To 23 cattle, wt. 19,450 Ibs., @ $4.90 per cwt. $953-Q5 

 To 4 cattle, wt. 3-,34O Ibs., @ $5.00 per cwt. 167.00 

 To Freight, Pittsburgh to State College .... 34-36 



Dec. i Feeds used preliminary to beginning of test : 

 Mixed hay, 6310* @ $12.00 per ton .... $37.86 

 Corn silage, 6100* @ $2.50 per ton .... 7.62 

 Cottonseed meal, 90* @ $30.00 per ton . . 1.35 46.83 



Total cost of 27 cattle, Dec. i, 1911 $1,201.24 



By Value of 3 cattle used for other purposes 127.03 



Total cost of 24 cattle at beginning of experiment $1,074.21 



Total weight of 27 cattle, Dec. i. 1911 23,692 Ibs. 



Total weight of 27 "cattle, Nov. 13, 1911 22,790 Ibs. 



Gain during preliminary feeding period 902 Ibs. 



Average gain per head 33.5 Ibs. 



Total weight of 24 experimental steers 21,175 Ibs. 



Average cost per cwt $5-Q7 



