(Growing Feeder Steers in Western Nebraska 21 



relative summer gains of the six lots (Table 11) show that 

 during two summers Lot 2, wintered on prairie hay, gained 

 more than any other lot and that during the other summer Lot 

 3, wintered on cane, made the greatest gain. The average rela- 

 tive gains for the year place the lots much more closely to- 

 gether than the summer or winter gains alone. Tho there was 

 a tendency for the steers poorly wintered to catch up to the 

 others in weight during the summer, yet they were much 

 lighter than the better wintered steers when put on the market. 

 If the steers had been kept till fall before being sold, the weights 

 of all lots might have been more nearly the same, but it is 

 probable that the increase in weight on steers during the sum 

 mer is largely made before August 1. 



The average daily gains of all lots for the three summers 

 are strikingly lacking in uniformity. During the first summer 

 the average daily gain per steer from April 21 to October 31 

 was 1.09 Ibs. These steers were yearlings. During the second 

 summer the average daily gain per steer for all lots from March 

 31 to November 2 was .76 Ib. The steers were then two years 

 old. During the next summer, when the steers were 3 years 

 old, the average daily gain per steer for all lots was 2 Ibs. from 

 May 4 to August 5. 



There are several reasons for lack of uniformity in the gains 

 made during the three summers. The climatic conditions of the 

 seasons were not similar, and, as the acreage of pasture was 

 limited, this affected the pasture. There was about the same 

 number of stock in the pasture each season, but during the 

 first two seasons a herd of 50 cows ran with the steers. There 

 was a division fence and another water system put in in the 

 spring of 1910, and during the season the cows were kept 

 separate from the steers. 



It is probable that the 8 weeks of fastest gains are from 

 May 15 to July 15, or possibly a week or two later, depending 

 on the season. Another period of rather rapid gains is believed 



