272 BULLETIN 133 



besides 5 pounds of alfalfa hay daily per 1000 pounds live weight. 

 Lot III , showed a loss of $27.93; Lot IV, $12.60; and Lot I] 

 $12.26. 



Although a financial loss was" incurred in every lot, this is 

 partly overcome by the value of pork produced. Owing to the 

 limited grain ration, it was necessary to feed the hogs in the same 

 lot some grain in addition to the feed secured from the droppings 

 This was charged against the total amount of pork produced in 

 each lot. After paying for this feed, the net returns from pork 

 produced are as follows: Lot I, $13.22; Lot II, $18.48; Lot III, 

 $10.17; Lot IV, $21.20; and Lot V, $19.98. The only lots in 

 which the amount of pork produced is sufficient to show a gain 

 instead of a loss are II and IV. This shows the necessity of hav- 

 ing hogs follow the cattle, even though a limited grain ration be 

 fed. 



No account was kept of the amount of manure produced or 

 the amount of bedding used. It is generally figured that the 

 manure produced will pay for the bedding and the labor required 

 to feed the cattle. It should be kept in mind that, when farm 

 grown feeds are fed and home market prices are asked for such 

 feeds, the labor in handling this feed when fed to live stock is no 

 greater than the amount required to haul it to the mill or car. 



The results of this experiment are not as encouraging as those 

 of the past two years when considered from a financial point of 

 view. Although a direct financial loss was incurred in prac- 

 tically every lot, it is very slight in those lots which received the 

 more typical present day rations. With the increased price of 

 feeding cattle, and the generally narrow margin upon which the 

 cattle must be fed, the economy of production becomes the most 

 important consideration. If the results of this year's test are 

 averaged with those of previous years, it will be found that the 

 average for these scries of years will show a profit. Another fac- 

 tor to be kept in mind is, that the average feed commonly fed to 

 beef cattle is roughage, which is bulky and very often not suitable 

 for market. This experiment also shows a decided advantage in 

 using corn silage for at least a portion of the ration, if cattle are 

 to be fed in an economical way. 



