STEER FEEDING EXPERIMENTS 79 



SUMMARY. 



Experiment for 1903-4. 



(i.) The results of the tests made during the winter 1902-3 

 and 1903-4 seemed to show that the relative value of the different 

 grains, (when fed with clover) to produce increase in live weight 

 on a steer, is: ist, mixed grain; 2d, barley; 3d, wheat; 4th, oats. 

 See page 62. 



(2.) Considering the food required for each pound of gain 

 the relative value of the different grains, when fed with clover, is 

 as follows: ist, mixed grain ; 2d, wheat; 3d, barley; 4th, oats. 

 See page 63. 



(3.) With the cost of grain and hay, as reported in this bul- 

 letin, the relative value of these grains was as follows, starting 

 with the lowest or cheapest ration: ist, mixed grain; 2cl, barley: 

 3d, wheat; 4th, oats. See page 66. 



(4.) These steers cost 3.2 cents per Ib. live weight and sold 

 for 3.5 cents per Ib. Considering this difference between the buy- 

 ing and selling price and the cost of the grain and hay fed, these 

 steers failed to pay for their feed by $40.51, which represented a 

 loss of $1.26 on each steer. See page 67. 



Experiment for 1904-5. 



(i.) In this test while the steers fed the larger grain ration 

 gained more and faster than those fed the smaller grain ration, 

 yet the gains were in no wise in proportion to the difference in the 

 grain. Steers fed 7 and 10 pounds of grain a day gained an aver- 

 age of but two pounds more each than those fed three pounds of 

 grain per day over a period of 99 days. See table I., page 71. 



(2.) The food required for each pound of gain ranged from 

 22.8 Ibs. of hay and 2.66 Ibs. of grain for lot I, and 18.6 Ibs. of hay 

 and 7.53 Ibs. of grain. This represents a displacing of the cheap 

 hay by the more expensive grain, which, with prices as they are 

 with us, does not tend towards economy of production. See page 74. 



(3.) Put into money value, the cost of each pound of gain 

 ranged from 8.49 cents for lot I, up to 12.55 cents for lot IV, a dif- 

 ference of 4 cents in favor of the light grain ration. See page 74. 



