20 



INVESTIGATION IN. ANIMAL NUTRITION 



was an ample supply and considerable was fed. Had a shortage of sil- 

 age occurred in all groups at that season, the discrepancy in cost of 

 production would have amounted to about 2 cents per pound more than 

 when silage was fed. The gain from 1,000 to 1,100 pounds cost 10 

 cents per pound; from 1,100 to 1,200 pounds, 11.2 cents per pound; 

 from 1,200 to 1,300 pounds, 14.4 cents per pound; from 1,300 to 1,400 

 pounds, 14.2 cents per pound; and from 1,400 to 1,500 pounds, 15.4 

 cents per pound. 



In view of the fact that the steers were stall-fed during their 

 lifetime, these results, while showing a remarkably low cost of produc- 

 tion under the conditions mentioned, are not applicable to farm con- 

 ditions so far as the cost of production during the second year is con- 

 cerned. Feeding for profit and feeding for scientific investigations 

 are different propositions. The cost of the yearlings is entirely satis- 

 factory, and whether it could be materially reduced under farm con- 

 ditions is a question. 



It is a fair estimate to assume that under the present methods of 

 feeding and handling, steers are marketed when 30 months old. Under 

 the methods employed in this investigation they were ready for market 

 in from 24 to 25 months. At no time did they receive grain at the rate 

 of one pound per hundred pounds of live weight except while they 

 were being changed from milk nutrients to plant nutrients, and during 

 the short time when little or 'no silage was available, as is shown by 

 Table XV. 



TABLE XV 

 DAILY GAIN, GRAIN AND ROUGHAGE CONSUMED DURING GIVEN PERIODS 



ACTUAL 



PER 100 POUNDS LIVE WEIGHT 



Period 



Gain | Grain | Roughage || Grain | Roughage 



Table XV shows that the steers were on light feed during their 

 lifetime as compared with the general practice. The term "roughage" 

 includes both hay and corn silage, rating three pounds of silage equal 

 to one pound of hay. During the two periods from 700 to 900 pounds, 

 only one group received a full supply of silage and one group had none. 

 The other groups had none in going from 700 to 800 pounds and only 



