13 



nials while they were increasing in age from 24 to '<& 

 months. The cows gained only 12 pounds for the year, 

 showing that they were practically mature when they first 

 dropped calves. 



In short, the above table shows that, under the conJi 

 tions of this experiment the daily gains were smaller 3S 

 the animals increased in age. This was true in both the 

 summer and winter work. 



The gains were not as large as they should have been, 

 due partly to the extremely dry weather from June to 

 July 20, 1906, when the grass in the pastures became per- 

 fectly dry, and partly to the fact that one of the pastures 

 used in 1907, was so wet in the early spring, that the grass 

 did not grow satisfactorily during the whole summer. The 

 fact has already been mentioned that the animals were 

 also infested with the Texas tick. 



COST OF GAINS. 



The cost of gains during the summer was based upon a 

 rental of f 2.50 per acre for all land used for pasture ; calves 

 under one year of age were charged one-half price. When 

 the cost of keeping the dam was not charged against ihe 

 calves, they made 100 pounds 'at a cost of 63 cents, but when 

 the expense of the dam, as well as the pasture of the calf 

 were charged against the calf, the cost of 100 pounds of gain 

 was raised to fl.88. The cost of keeping the dam is the 

 expense of keeping 1.39 cows, as only one calf was produced 

 to every 1.39 cows. (See table 4). The yearlings made 100 

 pounds of gain during the summer at a cost of $1.28, the 

 two and a half year old steers (24-30 months) at a cost 

 of |1.43, and the gains of the steers in the fourth class 

 (24-33 months) were made at a cost of $1.65 per 100 pounds. 



