of the fact that protein, in which corn silage is quite deficient, 

 could be secured in this form cheaper than from any other source 

 and because of the large percentage of protein that could be fed in 

 very small quantities, thus reducing the expense for transporation 

 and labor in feeding. Previous investigation has also shown that 

 the laxative tendency caused by heavy feeding of succulent feeds 

 is materially reduced by the addition of cottonseed meal to the 

 rations. 



The Plan of the Experiments. 



Ten pure-bred Shorthorn cows were purchased in Mercer 

 County, Pennsylvania, and ten pure-bred Aberdeen-Angus cows 

 were selected from the College herds to be used in the test.The 

 Shorthorns were in very thin flesh, having been kept entirely on 

 grass during the summer and fall of 1911. On account of the de- 

 ficiency in rainfall, pastures were extremely short, hence the cattle 

 had lost flesh during the grazing season. They had produced calves 

 the preceding year, but were not bred at the time of purchase. The 

 Angus cows had raised calves during the summer and were re-bred 

 to produce another crop during the winter and spring. Because 

 of the better fall pasture in the central part of the state, they were 

 in much higher condition at the beginning of the test. Each group 

 of ten cows was allowed to run loose under an open shed used for 

 steer feeding purposes, adjoining which was an open lot. The floor 

 space in each shed, exclusive of that occupied by mangers and 

 feeding alley, was 420 square feet. The area of the open lot was 

 780 square feet. The cattle were confined in these lots from the 

 beginning of the experiment on December i, 1911, until the close, 

 April 19, 1912, a period of 140 days. While the housing and shelter 

 were ample, as shown by results secured, a greater area in the open 

 lot would be desirable. 



Method of Feeding. 



The corn silage was removed from the silo twice daily and 

 ted to the cows directly after weighing, in such quantities that 

 there would be none left in the mangers one hour after feeding. 

 Cottonseed meal was fed once daily at the rate of one pound to 

 each cow. This was distributed over th'e entire amount of silage 

 in order that the amount consumed would be determined by the 

 amount of silage. One lot of cows was bedded with sawdust, the 

 other with straw. Bedding was distributed at such intervals as 

 the condition of sheds and lots justified. 



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