Growing Feeder Steers in Western Nebraska 19 



TABLE 10. Average gain in pounds per day, per steer. 



Average for all lots three summers, 1.28 Ibs.; average for all lots 

 three winters, .41 Ib. 



* L indicates loss in weight. 



A study of Table 10, in which the daily gains of the various 

 periods are brought together, indicates that the results of the 

 three winter periods were similar. The steers getting alfalfa or 

 part alfalfa made fair gains, while those fed on prairie hay or 

 cane or both of these made slow gains or lost flesh. The steers in 

 Lot 2, fed prairie hay, lost an average of .4 Ib. per head daily 

 during the three winter periods. The steers fed cane, Lot 3, 

 during the same time gained .22 Ib. per head daily; those on 

 prairie hay and cane, Lot 6, gained .23 Ib. per head daily, while 

 the steers fed alfalfa, Lot 1, gained .59 Ib. ; those fed prairie 

 hay and alfalfa, Lot 4, gained .72 Ib. and those fed alfalfa and 

 cane gained .74 Ib. The relative gains for the six periods are 

 given iri Table 11. 



The low gain of Lot 1 (alfalfa) during the third winter has 

 not been accounted for fully. The difference in the appearance 

 of the lots indicated the results given by these figures. Why 

 Lot 1 did not do better we are unable to state, but we are of 

 the opinion that the quality of the alfalfa was less favorable 



