12 Cattle Feeding Experiment. 



COMMENTS ON THE EXPERIMENT. 



At the end of the second month one of the largest steers in 

 Lot 4 contracted pneumonia from the effects of dipping and 

 was withdrawn. His weight was credited to that lot, and the 

 average thereafter was made on nine steers, which in no wise 

 affected the results, though the withdrawal of such a heavy 

 steer lowered the average of later weights in that lot. 



After the second month's feeding, while each lot was fed 

 all the grain that would be cleaned up reasonably soon, it 

 will be noted that Lot 1 consumed the least grain of all. 

 This lack of appetite was no doubt due to the fact that in- 

 sufficient protein was furnished by corn and prairie hay, the 

 steers in this lot being the only ones which were given a 

 poorly balanced ration. This is exactly what occurred with 

 yearling steers the previous winter, and it is probable that 

 the smaller consumption of food partially accounts for the 

 smaller gains on corn and prairie hay both winters. A large 

 utilization of food is always more economical than a smaller 

 one, because it is the surplus over and above maintenance re- 

 quirements which goes to produce increase in weight. 



The steers receiving sorghum hay were the heaviest con- 

 sumers of grain, \vhich was also true with yearlings the pre- 

 vious winter, though there was less difference with the latter. 

 The steers when on a full grain feed consumed but a rela- 

 tively small quantity of roughage, the amount being regu- 

 lated in each lot by the inclination of the cattle. 



The light gain for food consumed during the last month 

 was due to the fact that the steers were then in good flesh, 

 though the hot weather in June, together with the annoyance 

 caused by flies, no doubt contributed to make the gain an 

 unsatisfactory one. 



With salt before the cattle at all times, each steer in Lot 1 

 consumed an average of .21 pound per week; in Lot 2, .21 

 pound; in Lot 3, .19 pound; in Lot 4, .15 pound; and in Lot 

 5, .31 pound. 



