STEER FEEDING 



45 



The cheapest and largest daily gain was made during the first 

 two years, this being due to most perfectly cured hay. Professor 

 Shaw, who planned and conducted the work for three years, wrote 

 as follows : "The clover consisted of both first and second cutting 

 hay, which had been cured in perfect condition under a cloudless 

 sky. This clover retained all the blooms, which presented the same 

 colorations they possessed on the day of cutting." These results 

 emphasize most strikingly the value of well cured hay. The first 

 winter, on 5 pounds grain per head per day, I pound of gain re- 

 quired 12.4 pounds of hay and 2.5 pounds grain; the second winter, 

 8.3 pounds hay and 2.1 pounds grain; the third winter, 28 pounds 

 hay and 5.43 pounds grain, and the fourth winter 16.6 pounds hay 

 and 3.5 pounds grain. 



The results of feeding different amounts of grain are uniform, 

 for in no year did the larger amount of grain show a corresponding 

 increase in gain. The cost of gain was increased by the larger 

 amount of grain fed. 



TABLE IV. Average results from feeding different amounts of grain to 

 steers. 



The average daily gain per steer for five trials varied from i.i 

 pounds to 1.5 pounds. Equal daily gains were secured with 7 and 

 10 pounds of grain, and . I of a pound less with 5 pounds of grain. 



In figuring the cost, in the average results given above, 

 grain was valued at $1.00 per cwt, and hay at $6.00 per ton. The 

 prices are a little above the average, but are conservative. The 

 cost of production increases with the amount of grain fed, from 7.6 

 cents per pound with 3 pounds grain to 10.1 cents per pound with 

 10 pounds of grain. These results, covering the work of several 

 years , undoubtedly give a fairly accurate measure of what can be 

 done under the conditions mentioned, in feeding from 3 to 10 pounds 

 of grain per head per day to steers. 



